The 2019/20 season may not be over yet, but most teams are already starting their preparations for the upcoming and fast-approaching new campaign.
Fortunately for the lazy players, they won’t be put through the same old rigorous training bootcamps, as their respective leagues are only a few weeks away. So, managers are now organizing pre-season friendlies to get their stars in tip-top shape ahead of another grueling year of football.
Mourinho discusses strategy against Ipswich Town/Catherine Iwell/Getty Images
Premier League coaches will all have drawn a big circle around the date ‘September 12’ on their calendars, as they work to trim their squads and finalize their plans ahead of the first weekend in the English top flight. have been.
Saturday afternoon saw three Premier League clubs take to the field – with varying degrees of success. Here’s a quick look at how they fared in their preseason scrimmages.
We’ll start with the most dramatic match of the afternoon, featuring Carlo Ancelotti and his Everton side. It’s safe to say last season didn’t go to plan for the Toffees, but with the Italian legend in the dugout and his feet under the table now, things should be more positive next year, right?
11′ Ward makes it three at Blackpool.
? 3-0?
— Everton (@Everton) August 22, 2020
Well, obviously not. incredible, Everton Three goals down for the League One side. Blackpool Within 11 minutes of the game. CJ Hamilton gave the Tangerines the lead in the first minute, and a two-minute double from Sally Kekai and Grant Ward shook the Premier League.
Fortunately for Toffees fans everywhere, they suddenly remembered how to play football. Dominique Calvert-Leon pulled one back from a corner on 22 minutes, and Gylfi Sigurdsson added the second eight minutes later. The comeback was completed in the 72nd minute, when Sigurdsson curled a beautiful free kick into the top corner. Disaster averted.
? | Top boxes from Gylfi! #EFC ? pic.twitter.com/QyIQAsfyO2
— Everton (@Everton) August 22, 2020
They say you learn more from your failures than your successes, and Ancelotti may have discovered a lot about his players on Saturday afternoon.
Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur’s pre-season continued with much more ease as they beat the League One club Ipswich Town 3-0 In their return to action. José Mourinho fielded a very strong starting line-up, including new signing Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, who recently joined from Southampton.
Spurs’ depth in quality showed from the off, and Ryan Sessegnon fired the ball home in the ninth minute, finding the bottom corner after some smart play from Dele Alli. There again just four minutes later he picked up his second assist of the afternoon, allowing Heung-min Sun to double his advantage.
? ?#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/VoWZyr4lam
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 22, 2020
They finished off the afternoon’s goals on the half-hour mark, chipping past the Ipswich goalkeeper in style. New signing Joe Hart also made an appearance for the north Londoners, and Mourinho will be pleased with his side’s commanding performance.
Last but not least, the Premier League Champions. The face of Liverpool VfB Stuttgart Made light work of German clothing with Saturday afternoon and casual. 3-0 Victory in Austria Jurgen Klopp’s men opened with typical fervor, taking the lead on 15 minutes, when Roberto Firmino headed home a superb finish from Curtis Jones.
??#LFCPreSeason pic.twitter.com/2qD907gpGP
— Liverpool FC (now live on LFCTV GO?) (@LFC) August 22, 2020
Nebi Keita then got in on the act just before half-time, and Ryan Brewster staked his claim for a place in the side by firing home from close range to add a third. A solid afternoon for the reigning champions.
Results:
Blackpool 3-3 Everton
Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Ipswich Town
VfB Stuttgart 0-3 Liverpool