Anantaajith Raghuraman

Why are Liverpool struggling? Opponents wise to Gravenberch, Salah gamble backfiring Three straight defeats have raised some questions over Liverpool's chances of another Premier League title. But what has caused this dip?

A breakdown of why Liverpool are in a mini-funk heading into the intl break w/ @adjones-journo.bsky.social & @greggevans40.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social

- Teams shutting down Gravenberch
- Issues out wide & out of possession
- Substitution inconsistency
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

As Everton’s search for front line fluency goes on, their supporting cast steps up Moyes’ decision to replace Barry and Dibling, over £60m worth of signings, at half-time was an admission of error. It also changed the game

For 45 mins, Everton looked laboured & tactically confused. The rejigged setup did not work

Then came the HT adjustments & fightback. Alcaraz, in particular, superb

This felt like the new stadium's first proper 'Goodison' moment

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1: Estevao winner, Caicedo’s stunner, third defeat in a row for Slot’s side Estevao gave Chelsea a late 2-1 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge - our writers break down the key talking points.

Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool post-match thoughts with @adjones-journo.bsky.social and @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social:

- Liverpool errors and Caicedo's rocket
- Chelsea's defensive crisis
- How did Mamardashvili do?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Is Antoine Semenyo the best player in the Premier League right now?

The Bournemouth star scores with his right foot, scores with his left and is asking every team he faces — including Fulham last night — some serious questions

📝 @anantaajith.bsky.social

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Few better players to watch live in the Premier League right now than Antoine Semenyo
Two great goals - one with either foot -, a constant threat with the ball and incredible work-rate without it
Simply thrilling
@theathleticfc.bsky.social

The Alternative Premier League Table: No 7 – Attacking performance versus expected goals How Manchester United are underperforming, Spurs and Liverpool are overperforming, and why Crystal Palace could be even higher than they are

Everybody's favourite football metric xG drives this week's Alternative PL Table for @theathleticfc.bsky.social
A deep dive into how and how well teams create opportunities, where they take their shots from and why some have struggled while others have thrived ⬇️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

Everton 1 West Ham 1: Sluggishness exposed, Dewsbury-Hall blow but Garner shines Questions remain about this Everton side following the home draw with West Ham. They look short in key areas and slumped in the second half

Another reminder last night of the gaps in this Everton squad. West Ham noticeably quicker & sharper in key areas & exploited #EFC's makeshift right flank

Diouf, a standout at left back, an example of what Moyes' side are missing

@theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

How Nico O’Reilly has become the direct-running catalyst for Man City’s attack Pep Guardiola needed Man City to take a different attacking approach in the second half against Burnley and the English left-back stepped up

Pep Guardiola said after City 5-1 Burnley that Nico O'Reilly's run at the start of the 2nd half "sent a message" about their playing style
Broke down why that was the case and how O'Reilly symbolizes Guardiola's use of ball-carriers for
@theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...

🔙 Gabriel’s redemption arc
🤔 Why did VAR overturn Gyokeres’ penalty?
💪 Woltemade’s ruthless efficiency

After Arsenal's dramatic late comeback win at Newcastle, @chrisdhwaugh.bsky.social , Art de Roche & @anantaajith.bsky.social take a look at the talking points ⤵️

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

Preview: Manchester City host Burnley Premier League title contenders Manchester City are playing catch up after a mixed start to the campaign.

Wrote a quick #MCIBUR preview for @fotmob.com, which includes some crazy stats on Erling Haaland's start to the season and City's dominant record against the Clarets:

www.fotmob.com/en-GB/topnew...

Fuelling England for the Women’s Rugby World Cup final: 4,000 calories and 600g of carbs a day The English are favourites to beat Canada and be crowned champions on home soil this weekend, but what has fuelled their success?

Nutrition plays a crucial role in performance. Story here on how the Red Roses have tackled nutrition during the Women's Rugby World Cup 🌹🍽️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...

We often say that the most entertaining games of football are played at a “good tempo”.

For @theathleticfc.bsky.social, I tried to quantify exactly what that is, and which Premier League teams play with a fast and slow tempo.

Link below!

www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...

The Alternative Premier League Table: No 6 – How are teams using long balls? When even Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are playing more direct, it's clear the division is going through of a tactical shift

Long balls have long been a fruitful strategy to bypass presses
But after briefly going out of fashion as controlled possession grew, it's back for good in the PL
I break down how each team uses them in this week's Alternative Table for @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

Marcus Rashford's Barcelona loan spell has lift-off.

Newcastle, in typical fashion, started aggressively, but Barcelona are too good a side to be dominated for long and the moment the visitors were waiting for arrived in the 58th minute from a familiar face.

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

Newcastle 1 Barcelona 2 – Is Rashford back? Should Schar have come off sooner? Are Flick’s side contenders? The Athletic's writers analyse Newcastle's opening Champions League game of the season against Barcelona

Newcastle 1-2 Barcelona post-match thoughts with @chrisdhwaugh.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social:

- Lift-off for Rashford
- The Schar question
- What did both teams learn?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

Serbia 0 England 5: World Cup within sight as Tuchel’s team click England emerged from what had been billed as the toughest game in the group with a comprehensive victory to maintain their pristine record

▪️ Where does this leave Thomas Tuchel and England?
▪️ How did Morgan Rogers spark England into life?
▪️ What was the atmosphere like?
▪️ Was this an Anthony Barry masterclass?

@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social and @anantaajith.bsky.social dissect the main talking points after England's victory in Serbia.

Manchester United’s wide combinations are always there, but they need to work more often Other tactical issues, poor execution and the lack of a reliable goalscorer have impacted Amorim's men as they try to make these moves click

Throughout Ruben Amorim’s tenure, Manchester United’s wide combinations have been present, but other tactical problems, poor execution and the lack of a reliable goalscorer have impacted their productivity.

Piece on United's wide combinations involving the No 6.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...

Done mate, feel free to drop me a text!

What Yoane Wissa brings to Newcastle: Efficient finishing, aerial threat and how he fits with Woltemade Newcastle have finally secured the signing of Wissa from Brentford after a long summer pursuit. But what will he offer Eddie Howe's squad?

⚫ Averages PL-high 0.21 xG per shot
⚪ Impeccable timing when arriving in the area
⚫ 2nd-most headed goals last season in PL, despite being 5'8"
⚪ Can play with & instead of Woltemade

👀 What Yoane Wissa brings to #NUFC, via @anantaajith.bsky.social:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...

The Alternative Premier League Table: No 3 – Who’s good at taking penalties? This week: How all 20 Premier League clubs perform when it comes to taking penalties, and who takes them

Week 3 of the Alternative Premier League Table on @theathleticfc.bsky.social is all about penalties - who's good and bad, who's cycled through multiple takers, who have succeeded in finding one specialist after the other and more ⏬

www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...

Nuno Espirito Santo with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Nuno Espirito Santo has said his relationship with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has changed since last season and the two are “not so close” anymore.

More from @colinmillar.bsky.social ⤵️

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

🔺 Who are the best and worst at attacking and defending corners?
🔺 What new tactics were deployed on the opening weekend?
🔺 Who improved & who got worse?

@anantaajith.bsky.social breaks it all down in The Alternative Premier League Table ⤵️

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

The Alternative Premier League Table: No 2 – Strongest and weakest teams at corners This week: how all 20 Premier League clubs perform at corners, what's working and what isn't

Week 2 of the Alternative Premier League table, looking back at which current #PL teams created the most from set-pieces last season and what they repeated/did differently in MW1
Some surprises, interesting routines and a lot more for
@theathleticfc.bsky.social 👇

www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

Rishabh Pant of India celebrates reaching his century with a somersault during Day Two of the 1st Rothesay Test Match between England and India at Headingley on June 21, 2025 in Leeds, England.

Rishabh Pant passed 50 for the fifth time on the tour today - effectively batting on one leg.

In 2022 his life and career was very different after a car accident left him with serious injuries.

This is the story of his comeback.

@anantaajith.bsky.social | bit.ly/44Pt6di

As revealed in today's Transfer DealSheet, Arsenal are exploring the addition of a more versatile attacking player, such as Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze or Morgan Rogers.

What would Madueke, Eze or Rogers offer Arsenal?

📝 @thom-harris.bsky.social and @anantaajith.bsky.social

🔗 bit.ly/4kmYqEH

Rayan Cherki to Manchester City: Transfers TLDR The France forward's move to the Etihad Stadium from Lyon has been confirmed - this is everything you need to know...

In the latest Transfers TLDR, @stevemadeley78.bsky.social, @anantaajith.bsky.social and @cweatherspoon.bsky.social explain the deal that saw Rayan Cherki join Manchester City:

🔹 His backstory in 100 words
🔹 How he'll fit into Pep Guardiola's team
🔹 Financial details and PSR impact for both clubs

The Transfer DealSheet: Latest on Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid and more Welcome to the first edition of The Athletic's Transfer DealSheet for the summer transfer window

Welcome to the first edition of The Transfer DealSheet for the 2025 summer window.

This is our weekly guide to the transfer market.

■ @david-ornstein.bsky.social's One To Watch
■ Arsenal exploring Leroy Sane option
■ Manchester City exploring Rayan Cherki deal

Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool – Transfers TLDR Liverpool have announced the signing of full-back Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen - here's all you need to know about the move...

The second in @theathleticfc.bsky.social Transfers TLDR series went live today, with @caoimhesport.bsky.social @anantaajith.bsky.social and @cweatherspoon.bsky.social outlining all you need to know about Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool.

Matheus Cunha to Manchester United – Transfers TLDR United have announced their first summer signing has been agreed - here's all you need to know about Matheus Cunha.

With the CWC-related transfer window opening yesterday, @cweatherspoon.bsky.social and @anantaajith.bsky.social kicked off @theathleticfc.bsky.social transfer coverage with our new Transfer TDLR series, looking at Matheus Cunha to Manchester United.

Adam Wharton’s passing playbook: Quick switches of play and a natural eye for progression The Crystal Palace midfielder takes risks with his passes, pushing incisively through pressure and propelling his team up the pitch

Adam Wharton's passing playbook: Quick switches of play and a natural eye for progression

The England international is the risk taker at the heart of the #CPFC midfield, and key to their approach

Analysis from @thom-harris.bsky.social and @anantaajith.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...