Opinion

Everton suffered a 1-0 defeat against West Ham last Sunday. The game was always going to be a tight one between two teams with tactically savvy head coaches.

After a crazy week of European football, domestic action returns with perhaps the biggest weekend of league football so far as we witness four eye-catching derbies spread across four leagues. We’ve grouped them together here.

Xisco Munoz’s sacking at Watford was perfectly timed. Watford had the October international break to bring in a new manager and prepare for life post-Xisco.

On Sunday, two of the top teams in the Bundesliga met at the BayArena, as second-place Bayer Leverkusen hosted league leaders and champions Bayern Munich.

Over the past couple of years, Declan Rice has established himself as one of the Premier League’s top midfielders. In fact, he could well be one of the best midfielders on the planet.

We have long debated the topic of the best player in the world and the names of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the discussion for some time. However, as both players come towards the end of their career, who is the top man at present in world football?

For years there have been some key weaknesses at Arsenal that have seen the Gunners drop out of the top four and even the top six. The biggest weakness towards the end of the Arsene Wenger era was in defence.

Brighton & Hove Albion have made an eye-catching start to the 2021-22 season, losing just one of their opening seven Premier League games.

After 2 weeks of international break, the top leagues start again. Let's take a look at the 5 most interesting fixtures to watch:

In recent years, one team has dominated the Bundesliga, as behemoths Bayern Munich have now claimed the German title in nine straight seasons. The Bavarians may well repeat the trick this season and claim a tenth straight title.

The Ballon d’Or is back after being canceled last year due to the pandemic. The 2021 ceremony takes place on 29 November, with Lionel Messi the bookmakers’ favourite to scoop the prize.

Following the comfortable 5-0 win in Andorra, England are well placed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. The remaining three group games look straightforward and it will be a surprise if England do not finish on 28 points, just 2 points short of a 100% record.

It has been a long time coming but Newcastle United have finally been sold by Mike Ashley. In what has been a dire time in terms of on the pitch success, the purchase of Newcastle United by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, who will hold an 80% stake in the club, is complete.

The October international break often gives us a chance to look back at what has gone on so far in the big European leagues.

As we head into the international break, Napoli are the only team in Serie A who still boast a 100% record this season.

There is no denying that Harry Kane has yet to find his feet this season. Following a chaotic summer both on and off the pitch, the Tottenham star has struggled to get going in 2021/22.

Sunday’s big Premier League clash at Anfield between heavyweights Liverpool and Manchester City produced a great spectacle, eventually finishing 2-2 after a pulsating second half.

Manchester United dropped more points at Old Trafford in the Premier League on the weekend as they were held to a 1-1 draw by an understrength Everton team.

In this day and age, it feels like more and more teenagers are breaking through at Europe’s top clubs and establishing themselves as first-team regulars.

The press conference before Barcelona’s trip to Atletico Madrid looked like being the last for Ronald Koeman. The Dutchman was asked about his future and said, “Nobody has said anything to me, but I do have eyes and ears”.