Of the promoted teams, surely Middlesbrough have the best chance at survival in the promised land. After relegation in 2009, Boro are set to give it all they’ve got in order to stay up.

The signings are impressive, the stadium is impressive, the manager is impressive – in stature at least – and so they’re well-equipped this season.

Last season

Promotion on the last day, and in the way Middlesbrough did it is a momentum-maker. It was essentially a play-off on the last game of the season against Brighton. How do you top that?

What does success look like?

Well you probably top that by staying in the Premier League. That will be the measure of success this season, but with so many new signings, so many big names who aren’t in their prime and with a manager who courted some controversy last season, there are still question marks over the Teessiders.

How has the summer gone?

By all accounts, Boro’s summer has been impressive. Signing some big names in the hope of raising the profile and status of the club thanks to the profile and status of the manager.

There’s something strange about a promoted club giving Alvaro Negredo – a 30-year-old striker – so much money in wages, but digging beyond the superficial, it makes more sense. It’s a loan signing, and his wages reportedly equate to about £5m per season – it’s a lot to spend on wages, but you’d pay £5m to buy a striker with the pedigree of the Beast of Vallecas, wouldn’t you?

Key man

It has to be the beast himself, Alvaro Negredo. If he can bang in the goals like he did in the first half of his year in Manchester, Negredo will terrify Premier League defences and score enough goals to keep Boro in the league.

Make or break season

After his publicised problems at Southampton, Gaston Ramirez will need to prove that he has the quality his profile suggests he does. At some point you have to stop living on paper and start getting into the game.

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In a spiky interview with the Daily Mail, Yaya Toure’s agent, Dimitri Seluk, has claimed Pep Guardiola’s decision to freeze his client out will cost them lots of fans in Africa and the Manchester City midfielder will be a wanted man in January.

The Ivorian ace has been one of the biggest victims of the Citizens’ change of management over the summer, with the 33-year-old yet to make a Premier League appearance this season whilst being axed from City’s Champions League squad for the group stage of the tournament.

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Guardiola deemed Toure surplus to requirements at Barcelona, leading to his move to Man City in 2010, and it appears the Spaniard has no place for the languid playmaker in his Etihad Stadium plans either.

Seluk, speaking to the Daily Mail, has lifted the lid on the situation, claiming the Cote d’Ivoire hero will be chased by many clubs in January – when he’ll be available on a pre-contract deal – and that Guardiola’s decision to axe him from first-team duties will cost the Citizens lots of fans.

“They will lose a lot of millions of supporters from Africa because of this decision from Guardiola.

“Now they will support Manchester United. A lot of people in Africa say they will never see any more matches of City on TV. Yaya in January can sign a pre-contract agreement with clubs abroad.

“He will have many offers from clubs. China and America of course they want him but we will have a lot of offers from England and Europe. He is in very good shape, very good condition, I think he lost seven kilograms.

“Maybe that’s not good enough for Guardiola, but then Zlatan Ibrahimovic wasn’t good enough for him. In January we will see. It is three months to wait — no problem. Yaya is a very professional guy.”

Toure’s agent has created headlines in the past, with one of the biggest stories being ‘cake-gate’ – when he revealed the veteran midfielder was frustrated by his birthday not being properly honoured by the club.

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If ‘yer average’ fan was asked to name their favourite non-derby English fixture they would probably go for Manchester United v Liverpool. And there would be absolutely nothing wrong with that; it’s got fierce rivalry and history and can usually be relied upon to offer up drama galore.

The connoisseur though – the more learned aficionado who likes his steak just so, and appreciates a vintage port for good measure while enjoying Peaky Blinders over Eastenders – would undoubtedly opt for Tottenham v Manchester City. Or City v Tottenham, it really makes no odds.

John Motson would plump for these two I’m sure of it, not that John Motson is the standard bearer of football sophistication or anything. I’m just saying he would. Though he’d probably call it ‘The Citizens v the Lilywhites’ and that would be annoying.

He – along with others who ‘have a bit about them’ as Andy Townsend might put it – would pick out this game as the crème de la crème of fixtures because something special always seems to occur when City travel to north London or Spurs head to the Etihad. In recent times there have been goals aplenty though again I’m not saying that’s a barometer of footballing sophistication. I’m just saying there are usually lots of goals, 43 in the last 10 occasions as it happens. And there is controversy too, a buckletload of it courtesy of blundering linesmen who are presumably so bewitched by the thrilling end-to-end football on display they don’t notice their contact lens popping clean out.

But the big score-lines and contentious decisions only play a small part of this engrossing fixture’s appeal because when City and Spurs collide it’s all about aesthetics and style. Both teams play pleasing football regardless of who’s in charge while traditionally they share a spectacular ability to grab defeat from the jaws of triumph. That’s a combination that lends itself to classic encounters. It helps too that neither club like the other very much and better yet it’s a feud not born from locality or a jostling for dominance but for the very best reason – just because, that’s why.

So let the media and the Twitterverse relish the hate-fest of October 17th when two fading giants in red play the game at twice its usual speed. The sophisticates of soccer know the real sparkling gem of the English football calendar kicks off this weekend, a clash between the top two to boot.

It probably won’t be as memorable as the five corkers below. It will definitely be more entertaining than most.

Ballet on Ice 1967

Britain was in the grip of a deep freeze and with the Maine Road turf glacial white the Spurs camp were keen to have the game postponed. Not that such uncertainty showed in their performance and the 4-1 drubbing was largely due to City being immaculate on this day, a perfect storm of brilliant attacking football amidst a perfect storm.

Greaves got the opener but in truth, were it not for the excellent Pat Jennings in goal, this could have been a massacre as City tore into the recent double-winners with no small degree of panache.

The motivational skills of Malcolm Allison convinced this wonderful side they could walk on water. Or perform poetry on ice in this instance.

“The big man from Argentina goes past one, two, three”

Every twist and turn of Ricky Villa’s wonder goal is as familiar to us all as a Beatles hook or Captain Mainwaring instructing Pike not to give his name in Dad’s Army. Yet watching it again for the thousandth time it still balloons the heart to twice its size. (Might be worth getting that checked out – Ed)

The moment of individual genius by Ossie’s best mucka may be chiefly responsible for the 1981 FA Cup final replay achieving immortality but the entire 180 minutes is up there with the best sporting pair of finals this country has ever produced.

The greatest cup comeback ever

When the referee blew for half-time in this FA Cup 4th round replay in 2004 City weren’t just dead and buried; the condolence cards sent to their relatives had already gathered dust on the mantelpiece.

3-0 behind after 43 minutes Joey Barton went all Joey Barton and saw red leaving the traveling Blues to sing throughout the break in empty defiance only. That defiance soon became spirited when Sylvain Distin and Paul Bosvelt made it a contest. A late Shaun Wright-Phillips equaliser and last minute winner by Jon Macken ensured top billing on the evening news as the greatest cup comeback ever was completed.

The top four final

With Sky execs and those who decide the fixture list presumably high-fiving each other at the fortuitous circumstance the penultimate game of the 2009/10 campaign saw the old adversaries meet up for a winner-takes-all Champions League qualifying showdown.

Understandably given that neither side had previously reached such heights in the modern era and with so much at stake this was a tense, chess-like encounter with Harry Redknapp ultimately proving to be the grandmaster. His bold team selection reaped a £30m dividend as Peter Crouch nodded home a late decisive winner. They were worthy winners and unforgettable nights at Bremen and the San Siro beckoned.

By the strangest quirk of fate it was Crouch’s own-goal in the same fixture the following season that helped City over the line to break their top four cherry.

A schooling at the Lane

Just three games into the 2011/12 season nobody could have predicted the crazy injury-time manner in which City would secure their first league title for 44 years and that’s not because, well, who could have seen that coming? It was also because it necessitated United – or anyone – being within touching distance of the Blues come the season’s end and after this comprehensive schooling of Spurs at the Lane that seemed a ludicrous notion.

With new signings Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri slotting seamlessly into Roberto Mancini’s side this was a fluid and dominant display that was simply on another level to anything witnessed in recent years.

Edin Dzeko bagged four in a 5-1 whitewash, his performance earning high-praise from the infamously hard-to-please Mancini afterwards who called the Serbian hitman ‘perfect’.

According to reports from The Sun, Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a transfer swoop for Lazio defender Jordan Lukaku.

What’s the word?

That surname will sound familiar and with good reason – Jordan is the younger (and slightly shorter) brother of Everton striker Romelu Lukaku. Like many a Belgium international, the left-back has been linked with a Premier League move for some time, with Arsenal and Spurs amongst five English clubs reported to be targeting him ahead of the summer transfer window.

Lukaku did leave Oostende during the off-season but signed for Lazio instead. He’s gone on to feature in just over half of their Serie A fixtures so far this season but nonetheless, The Sun claim Spurs are targeting the 22-year-old as “the long-term left-back option at White Hart Lane.”

Do Spurs need another left-back?

On the surface, no. Under Mauricio Pochettino, Danny Rose has established himself as one of the best No.3s in Europe, especially in terms of getting forward and providing width on the counter-attack. He signed a new contract in September and still aged just 26, will expect to be Spurs’ first choice for another few seasons at the very least.

The England international is understudied by Ben Davies, another impressive left-back option considering his performances for Wales at Euro 2016, suggesting there’s no room at the inn for Lukaku.

But the report does tacitly hint at a Davies departure. Plenty of Premier League clubs would happily have the former Swansea City defender at their disposal, so perhaps Lukaku is being targeted as a replacement. A few years younger than Davies and relatively inexperienced in European football, he might be more willing to play second fiddle to Rose.

Here’s a look at how Lukaku’s form has compared to Spurs’ left-backs this season, courtesy of Squawka:

According to widespread reports, Liverpool are keeping a close eye on FC Rostov’s attacking star Sardar Azmoun, who has been dubbed ‘the Iranian Lionel Messi’.

What’s the story?

Well, according to the Guardian and respected Joe reporter Tony Barrett (above) Liverpool are keen on Azmoun as they plot to bolster their attacking options mid-season.

The Reds are set to lose Sadio Mane from early January until potentially early February with the pacey ex-Southampton man due to represent Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Danny Ings has recently been ruled out for the entire season with a nasty knee injury.

As a result, Jurgen Klopp will see his red-hot strike force plummet in terms of numbers in the New Year, although he does have Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi chomping at the bit to break into his XI.

It’s claimed that Azmoun is being looked at with a view to solving this issue, although at this stage it remains unclear as to how many targets are being eyed up, with it unlikely that all of the club’s eggs are in one basket.

What sort of player is Azmoun?

As his ‘Messi’ moniker suggests, Azmoun is a technically adept final third player. Not an all-out forward, the 21-year-old tends to operate in a withdrawn role behind a main striker and has been known to work from wide positions too.

In terms of his goalscoring ability, Azmoun has netted 16 times in just 22 appearances for Iran at senior international level, while last season he notched nine goals in the Russian Premier League in just 1,130 minutes – the least game time of any of the division’s top ten scorers.

He’s dragged that form into the current campaign, too, finding the net twice in Champions League qualification while scoring against Atletico Madrid in the tournament proper.

How would he fit at Liverpool?

With Klopp’s team all about high-tempo, fluid attacking, the German will feel a drop in numbers in the New Year. While Origi offers him a physical presence and Sturridge supreme finishing ability, neither are truly suited to slotting into Mane’s wider role, so Azmoun, who can drift across a frontline, may be more useful.

In terms of age, Azmoun, who will turn 22 in January, fits the profile Liverpool are likely to pursue, with a younger player likely to be more content with a bench role when everyone is available.

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It’s that time of year again. The weather gets colder, the nights darker, shops get busier, Michael Buble gets his annual airplay in homes around the country and, in north London, Arsenal once again enjoy dominance near the top of the Premier League.

Just once in the past four years (2014/15) have Arsenal failed to be inside the top three come Christmastime. But, despite back-to-back FA Cup wins in 2014 and 2015 taking the trophy pressure off Arsene Wenger, the long-awaited league title (missing for twelve years now from the club’s cabinet) still eludes the Gunners, despite them showing repeatedly that they can be in the right place (top of the league) but at the wrong time (December, rather than May).

But why is this year different?

Personally, I backed Arsenal for the division title last season. With both Chelsea and Manchester United out of the way, the stage seemed set for the Gunners to win their first league title in twelve years. In fact, if Leicester City hadn’t made the unimaginable leap from almost-relegated to champions then it would have been a two-horse race between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, who did take advantage of the void of bigger clubs at the top of the table and managed to achieve a third place finish.

But, while I would be remiss in making the same prediction again (the term ‘broken record’ comes to mind), there seems to a sense of purpose this year with Arsenal. One of these is the ever-improving form of their two best players. Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are playing the best football this season they had since arriving at the Emirates Stadium.

Alexis Sanchez has previously played either side of the central target man, usually Olivier Giroud, but injury has kept the Frenchman out of the side during the first part of this campaign, and Sanchez has benefited playing in a more attacking role, scoring eleven goals so far in the league compared to his total of 13 last season. He has also reduced his shot-per-goal ratio as well, from 3.6 to 3.1 which suggests he has put more thought into the finishing side of his play. But he hasn’t let the other part of his game rest, however, contributing one more assist already this term than he did across the whole of last season.

Mesut Ozil has been improving year-on-year since arriving in England in 2013. While he initially struggled against some of the more physical players in the Premier League, and also with the style of play, he has since adapted his play to become a pivotal player in the current Arsenal side. Last season he gave 19 assists in the Premier League alone, and his key passes have also shown improvement, with his first season standing at an average of just 2.9, but last season this rose to an average of 4.2-per-game. His initial transfer to Arsenal (and in particular the price paid) may suggest it was a panic buy toward the end of the transfer window for Wenger, but he has certainly proved worth his value so far.

And then there is Wenger. This is his 21st season in charge of the team, and, like with Sir Alex Ferguson toward the end of his managerial reign at Manchester United, there are now constant rumours regarding when he will retire, which won’t cease until he does. There had been speculation of him taking the England job next summer, but it is extremely unlikely he would consider another position in the game after Arsenal, and he would surely like to retire on a high. Ferguson departed United after gifting them the title in his final season, so perhaps Wenger is waiting for the same acclaim for his side before he walks down the tunnel for the final time.

There is no telling when Arsenal will finally regain the Premier League trophy. As competition appears fiercer and fiercer each year it could be assumed that their chances are getting worse. But they continue to show form in the first half of their season, and they continue to give themselves the best chance of achieving success. What is certainly true is that they have plenty of doubters to silence and only one way of doing it.

This article was submitted via our Write For Us feature. Think you can do better? Submit your own article by clicking here, and give yourself the chance of winning monthly cash prizes…

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Manchester United picked up another vital victory on Tuesday night away to West Ham United. Their 2-0 win at the London Stadium was their 7th in a row in all competitions, proving that they’ve turned things around under Jose Mourinho, after a difficult start to the season.Juan Mata and Zlatan Ibrahimovic applied the finishes and stole the headlines but there’s one man who goes quietly about his business that completes the package for Mourinho’s team.Michael Carrick is an unsung hero of the United team, doing the hard graft and having the technical ability required to keep the Red Devils ticking across a 90 minutes.As this stat from Squawka shows, if he’d played every game for Mourinho this season, they might be sitting pretty at the top of the table.In the fifteen games he’s played for United this season, they haven’t been beaten once and incredibly they’ve won thirteen of them.

It highlights just how instrumental he is to their success, even if not scoring or contributing assists. Given the patchy form United have had without him in the team, they’ll be hoping he can stay injury free and keep his unbeaten streak going well into 2017.

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Manchester United’s Premier League season could be labeled a story of three sides. The beginning brought much optimism, then a sense of fear grew once more before a growing sense of belief has been established once again.

The last three seasons have brought much misery to a fanbase who are not used to this lack of success. Now under Jose Mourinho, the club has taken the necessary strides to re-establish themselves at the summit once again.

Mourinho’s effective summer recruitment has reaped its rewards, and in recent weeks, the team’s three best players have been the Special One’s marquee signings.

With the club looking set to mount a considerable charge for Champions League qualification, it’s time to look back at some of the Red Devils’ most significant strikes so far this campaign.

So here’s our rundown of United’s five best goals of 2016/17 so far…

5. Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Tottenham

It’s not just the finish that was exquisite but the build up surrounding United’s winner against Tottenham in December that brought the beginning of a new period for Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The Armenian midfielder had struggled to become a regular first-teamer under Jose Mourinho but his ability to control the game against Spurs changed everything.

From the pass to the electric run, right up to the powerful finish, this is one that will live long in the memory for the Armenian.

4. Juan Mata – Leicester

Not many would have expected Juan Mata and Jose Mourinho to work together once again following their turbulent spell at Chelsea.

However, the Spaniard has been United’s most consistent playmaker this campaign, and this goal against Leicester came at a time when trouble was looming large around Old Trafford.

The clever build up, link up play and neat passing ensured United passed their way around the Leicester defence before Mata slotted home for the Red Devils.

3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Bournemouth

Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has started his Premier League career in devastating fashion. On his debut for the Red Devils, Ibrahimovic made quite the impression by scoring from twenty-five yards out against Bournemouth.

Ibrahimovic started by breaking up play before moving free from the chasing pack to receive the ball. With little to no options available, Zlatan fired from distance to score his first Premier League goal.

2. Paul Pogba – Swansea

Unlike Zlatan, Pogba’s return to United didn’t get off to the best of starts, and the French international struggled to showcase his potential following his £89million return.

In November, with United struggling for form, Pogba managed to score one of the goals of the season as he majestically volleyed the Red Devils in front at the Liberty Stadium.

With moments like this, it’s easy to see why United forked out a world record fee for the midfielder.

1. Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Sunderland

Despite only scoring two Premier League goals for United, Mkhitaryan’s both goals appear on this list.

Nonetheless, this goal against Sunderland on Boxing Day stands head and shoulders above the rest. The Armenian international may have been offside but with the linesman failing to see it, Mkhitaryan made sure the Red Devils supporters had a late Christmas present.

An unbelievable scorpion volley occurred, and it will live long in the memory for anyone fortunate enough to witness the brilliance of Mkhitaryan.

Liverpool fans have been reacting to reports that the club are in talks with Philippe Coutinho over a new contract, and some are unsure whether it is good news or not.

The Telegraph has reported the latest update over the future of Coutinho, who has been linked to Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain  in recent months.

The Brazilian is a key player in Jurgen Klopp’s attack, having scored six goals and producing five assists in all competitions so far.

Coutinho has formed an impressive connection with Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane on the pitch, but an ankle injury kept him out of the hectic festive schedule.

Many Liverpool fans have welcomed the reports that the club have opened dialogue over signing fresh terms, despite the Brazilian still having three years left to run.

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However, some are concerned that signing a new deal means that a release clause will be written into it, with handfuls of supporters speculating that if the club do not qualify for the Champions League, Coutinho will be off.

Contracts do not always signify commitment, as Luis Suarez demonstrated by penning a new long-term deal in December 2013 before leaving to join Barcelona seven months later.

In addition, some supporters have claimed that the club’s American owners, Fenway Sports Group, are simply trying to distract everyone from the fact that they are yet to spend in the January transfer market.

The Coutinho news prompted a mixed reaction on Twitter.

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It’s fair to say Manchester United have struggled to maintain their best form since the retirement of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, with successors David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal both failing to fill the void.Jose Mourinho seemed to be heading down the same path in the early stages of his tenure at Old Trafford but the Portuguese boss has seen his side turn a corner in the past few months, clawing their way back into the race for Champions League football with a fantastic run.15 games unbeaten in the Premier League is a record that, remarkably, Manchester United have enjoyed 11 times since the league’s inception in 1992- but this is the first time they’ve secured that run of form since Ferguson waved goodbye.

With upcoming matches against Watford, Bournemouth, Southampton, Middlesbrough and West Brom between now and the end of April, United will fancy their chances of continuing that record.

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