⚽️ Matchweek 23 preview

Plus: Maddison vs Maupay - who's your winner?

February 02, 2024

GM football fans. Route One here, your football news waterboy - hydrating your mind with refreshing football takes.

Today’s briefing is a ~3 min read:

  1. Maddison vs Maupay 🍿

  2. All you need to know about Matchweek 23 🤩

  3. Extra time: The classic deadline-day moments 😅

Morning Brief 🗞️

Fulham agree a loan deal worth up to £4 million for Chelsea striker Armando Broja until the end of the season.

Swedish teenager chooses to join Tottenham over Barcelona. He will undergo a medical today but won’t join the club until the summer.

Crystal Palace signed Blackburn Rovers teenager on a five-and-a-half-year contract. The deal is worth around £22 million including add-ons.

The Premier League is on track to produce the most hat-tricks for 12 seasons, according to The Times.

Burnley announced the signing of defender Maxime Esteve from Ligue 1 side Montpellier on loan until the end of the season.

MADDISON VS MAUPAY 🍿

Ding ding ding!

This is exactly what the Premier League needs…

  • Drama.

  • A storyline.

  • Hero vs Villian.

And Wednesday night’s battle between Maddison and Maupay was something we didn’t expect… but everything we needed.

But, Router, we can’t decide who won the battle.

So let’s look at the wins for both sides…

Maddison

Maupay

Won the game

Got the first dig

“He hasn’t scored enough goals to have his own celebration”

“More goals and less relegations” in his career than Maddison

Brilliant Instagram bragging rights…

… even better response

Hmmm. It’s a close one.

There’s one thing for sure… Maupay goes down in the sh*thousery Premier League Hall of Fame.

He plays the villain role better than anyone. Even with his back against the wall, he still produced a great comeback…

Ultimately, Maddison had the last laugh.

But… we’re in the business of entertainment and we can’t help but love it.

Maddison vs Maupay - who won?

Poll revealed in Monday's edition

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

MATCHDAY 23 PREVIEW 🤩

It hasn’t even been a day yet and we’re talking about a new Matchweek.

First, let’s take a look at the fixtures…

So let’s take a look at the featured fixtures…

🍬 Everton vs Tottenham 🐓

Everton find themselves in the relegation zone after their mid-week draw to Fulham.

They now face Spurs at home.

Defensively speaking, Everton have been strong in front of their home crowd. 4 clean sheets - more than City, Villa and Chelsea - is impressive.

Their problem? Goals.

Yup. The Toffees have scored just 11 goals at home this season - the joint-worst in the league.

Couple this with the fact that Spurs have…

  • Scored the most away from home (24) this season.

  • Taken the fourth most shots on target away from home.

  • Only lost 2 of 7 away games this season.

…makes it a perfect opportunity for Ange’s side to secure 6 points in 3 days.

Not a bad week’s work.

  • 💉 Quick hit: Spurs have an aggregate score of 8-0 over Everton in their last six games.

🔫 Arsenal vs Liverpool 🦅

There are things in life that don’t need to be sold:

  • Any movie with Leonardo Dicaprio in it.

  • A Rolex.

  • A stick toffee pudding after mains.

The same goes for this fixture.

And we’re excited about this…

Neither side can risk a loss at this stage.

  • City are on Liverpool’s tail.

  • Arsenal are toying with the idea of being out of the race.

I know what you’re thinking… “We’re only halfway through the season”.

Yup. You’re right. But these are the make-or-break games. The games that allow a 90+ point team to pip another 90+ point team. The games that make the title feel just that little out of reach for your opposition. The games that must be won.

It’s not one to miss.

  • 💉 Quick hit: Arsenal’s 3-2 home win against Liverpool in the Premier League last season is their only victory in their last 11 meeting with the Reds in all competitions.

EXTRA-TIME ⏱️

It should be illegal to have this technique on a Hackney Marshes pitch. Despite the conditions, this player pulled off a Zidane-esque volley.

We’ve all experienced annoying fans in the stands. And this guy decided enough was enough and dealt with the matter - well?

Transfer deadline day has produced classic moments. Nothing will top Peter Odemwingie’s interview when he thought he was moving to QPR in 2013.

Lee Trundle was the definition of a ‘streets won’t forget’ footballer. Enjoy the Football League Ronaldinho running rings around his opposition.

MEME 😆

R1 REFERRAL