TACTICAL GENIUS: SCOTT PARKER PRAISES ENZO MARESCA'S "TOP" CHELSEA TEAM
Burnley boss Scott Parker hails Enzo Maresca's "outstanding" Chelsea as a "top team" ahead of their Premier League clash. Parker confirms ex-Chelsea striker Armando Broja is fit to face his old club.
Before the Premier League game on Saturday, Burnley's coach, Scott Parker, greatly admired Enzo Maresca and his good Chelsea team.
This weekend, Chelsea is coming back to the Premier League with a game that starts early against Burnley.
The Blues will really want to win and put some stress on Manchester City and Arsenal, the two teams above them in the league.
However, Burnley, who are just outside the worst three teams, will likely have a hard time getting a point.
Before the game, Burnley's coach, Parker, made it clear he knows how good the team that Maresca has is.
"Great team," Parker said when asked about Chelsea at the press meeting on Thursday.
"I think they are a great team with really good football players and a fantastic coach.
"We know that this weekend's game will be hard for us, but I do think they will be near the top this year.
"They are a very, very good team that can change things by setting up their team to play with great skill."
"But no matter if it was Chelsea or another team, we will get a win, and winning will definitely help us a lot.
"That is what we plan to do this weekend."
Parker also said that Armando Broja, who went from Chelsea to Burnley this summer, can play against his former team.
Even though the attacker seemed hurt when Albania lost to England earlier in the week, he has looked good in practice.
Before the game, Maresca will have to make some very important choices about the team.
Because many players were playing for their countries and they have a Champions League game against Barcelona on Tuesday, it seems unlikely he will use his best team against Burnley.
He will need to find the right mix between making a team strong enough to win at Turf Moor and resting key players for the games next week against Barcelona and Arsenal.
CRISIS DEEPENS: ROB EDWARDS' WOLVES SUFFER SOUL-CRUSHING LOSS WHILE CRYSTAL PALACE GO FOURTH
Rob Edwards' debut as Wolves manager ended in a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. The loss marks Wolves' 10th of the season, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.
The anticipated boost from a new manager didn't occur for Wolves, as Rob Edwards' initial match concluded with a 2-0 loss against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Following a disheartening 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace at Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton has now faced its 10th defeat of the season.
After hiring Rob Edwards from Middlesbrough, the home team had hopes for a fresh start under a new manager, but the harsh truth of the situation was exposed during his opening game, as Wolves only managed to get one shot on target.
Conversely, Palace extended their streak without a loss to five games across all competitions, propelled by goals from Daniel Munoz and Yeremy Pino, pushing the Eagles up to fourth place in the Premier League table.
Oliver Glasner and his team have now amassed 20 points this season and are presently only six points behind Arsenal, who are at the top of the league.
Instead of just trying to stay in the league, Wolves are now aiming to avoid the unwanted title of the worst team ever in Premier League history.
Edwards traded a promotion chase with Middlesbrough for what is likely the most challenging job in the highest level of English football, and the 42-year-old is now completely aware of the magnitude of his predicament.
Wolves have become only the eighth team in Premier League history to not win any of their first 12 games of the season, leaving their chances of survival looking extremely grim.
Having accumulated only two points this season, it is becoming obvious that the current group of players at Molineux are not capable enough, which was something many foresaw after several significant players left last summer.
As Wolves are already contemplating their future in the Championship, Crystal Palace are seemingly launching an unexpected campaign to qualify for the Champions League.
Glasner's team went through a tough period in October, losing three of their four matches across all competitions, but the Eagles seem to have regained their top form and are currently unbeaten in five games.
DYCHE LETS FOREST PLAYERS SOAK UP INCREDIBLE ANFIELD VICTORY
Nottingham Forest secure a historic 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield under Sean Dyche. Goals from Murillo, Savona, and Gibbs-White seal back-to-back wins, lifting Forest out of the relegation zone.
Nottingham Forest, under Sean Dyche's guidance, is gradually advancing, and without a doubt, securing this win against Liverpool was a monumental achievement.
After a promising beginning, the Reds had to endure a challenging period in the first half. Nevertheless, they deserved their victory at Anfield, with goals from Murillo, Nicolo Savona, and Morgan Gibbs-White clinching a decisive 3-0 win.
Ahead of the journey to Merseyside, Dyche mentioned progressing incrementally during his pre-match press briefing. He was definitely measured regarding his team's 3-1 victory against Leeds United before the international break.
He stated, "This is a developmental journey, made up of small steps. You cannot immediately instil everything into a group; it requires time to reshape the culture and atmosphere and subsequently implement it."
That outcome before the two-week break marked Forest's initial Premier League victory with Dyche in charge. Now they have consecutive victories and a notable triumph, having defeated the current champions.
Additionally, they have moved out of the relegation area, offering a significant morale lift. The Reds can leverage this to build further progress.
As the final whistle approached, the visiting supporters were in high spirits, and there was an explosion of cheers when it eventually sounded.
Dyche typically goes down the tunnel swiftly after matches, but even he appeared to remain on the field slightly longer on this occasion. It seemed his players were undoubtedly eager to enjoy the moment for as long as possible.
Before departing, Gibbs-White showed his appreciation to the travelling fans. It was a moment to remember. The away fans clearly enjoyed teasing Arne Slot again, celebrating their team’s consecutive league victories at Anfield for the first time since 1963.
Although it's just one result, it could catalyze Forest. Dyche might consider it another incremental step toward recovery, but it is a very steady one.