World Cup Pressure

GM football fans. It’s Tuesday, Jan. 07 - a Premier League sacking is imminent, World Cup pressures and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.

Enjoy reading Route One? Share with a friend using this link.

FIXTURES

English League Cup, semi-final: Arsenal vs Newcastle, 20:00 / 15:00. Newcastle have lost 12 of their last 13 away games against Arsenal in all competitions since a 1-0 win in November 2010 in the Premier League. But the Magpies have progressed to the final of the English League Cup twice in three semi-final attempts. Tottenham vs Liverpool to be played on Wednesday, 20:00 / 15:00.

Results…

• Premier League: Wolves 0 - 3 Nottingham Forest (League Table)

• Copa Del Rey: Minera 0 - 5 Real Madrid (Match report)

• Italian Super Cup: Inter Milan 2 - 3 AC Milan (Match report)

TOP TALKING POINTS

Lopetegui Sacking Imminent

West Ham have reportedly (unconfirmed) sacked head coach Julen Lopetegui. He is set to leave the Hammers in 14th place and only seven points clear of the relegation zone. Lopetegui will become the fifth Premier League manager to be sacked this season–following Erik ten Hag, Steve Cooper, Gary O’Neil, and Russell Martin.

In recent weeks, Lopetegui’s relationship with the club’s technical director Tim Steidten deteriorated. Multiple sources claim that Lopetegui asked Steidten to stay away from the club’s training ground. This has been denied by West Ham, who have attributed the German’s absence to him focusing on this month’s transfer window.

Multiple reports suggest that former Chelsea manager Graham Potter has been offered the job at West Ham.

Crystal Palace Buyer

A group — backed by individuals from Saudi Arabia and the United States — has signed an exclusive agreement to buy out Eagle Football’s 45% stake in Crystal Palace. Eagle Football owner John Textor rejected an initial offer but the group has increased its offer, up from $185m (£148.4m).

Eagle Football is waiting to hear from another group, Sportsbank, who are seeking to invest in Eagle. Should this go ahead, it could end any potential sale of Textor’s 45% stake in Palace. Both parties are now going through due diligence.

Textor — who owns Lyon, Botafogo, and RWD Molenbeek — has failed to purchase a controlling stake in Palace. He now admits that Eagle Football “is simply not a perfect fit for Crystal Palace.” After purchasing a stake in Palace in 2021, Textor funded a successful transfer window and completed the redevelopment of the academy.

World Cup Pressure

Hosting the 2034 World Cup has added immense pressure on Saudi Arabia to build the infrastructure to welcome fans. Between now and the World Cup, the country is hosting two other major tournaments: the AFC Asian Cup in 2027 and the Asian Winter Games in 2029.

The World Cup aligns with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, a plan to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy away from oil dependence. Experts told the Financial Times that the 10-year timeline introduces some uncertainty, given the kingdom’s reliance on crude prices. However, Saudi Arabia is reportedly prioritising the World Cup over other projects due to the tournament’s global appeal.

Saudi Arabia’s bid said the 48-team World Cup would be played in 15 stadiums across five cities. Of these, 11 stadiums are yet to be constructed, including the proposed Neom Stadium, envisioned to be set 350 meters above ground level and accessible via high-speed lifts and autonomous vehicles. See the 15 stadium designs here.

POLL

ON THE BALL

Europe

> Everton owners are assessing Sean Dyche’s future; they are on a run of one win in 11 (More) | Ange Postecoglou is reportedly “100% safe” in his Tottenham job and the board are backing him to lead the project forward (More) | Aston Villa have verbally agreed to sign Donyell Malen for around €30m; Bundesliga website claims he “plays a bit like Eden Hazard” (More)

> Dani Olmo does not want to leave Barcelona, who have received some unofficial approaches about his availability but not a formal offer (More) / Spanish | James Rodriguez is now a free agent after terminating his contract with Rayo Vallecano (More)

> PSG coach Luis Enrique praised his team for their 1-0 win over AS Monaco in the French Super Cup (More) | Forward Kolo Muani is gaining loan interest from Manchester United and Spurs (More)

> Danish women’s football implement a new standard contract and minimum wage (More) | Robbie Keane has been appointed head coach of Hungarian club Ferencváros (More)

Americas

> Toronto FC are working towards a Lorenzo Insigne departure this winter (More)

> MLS side Philadelphia Union name Bradley Carnell head coach; arrives with 10 years coaching experience and led St Louis City SC from their 2023 expansion season (More)

Rest of the World

> Two-time AFC Champions League winners Guangzhou FC have failed to obtain their license for the 2025 season, Chinese FA confirms (More)

> Indonesia sacks national football coach Shin Tae-yong, citing World Cup target; reports suggest Patrick Kluivert will become their new manager (More)

> Bahrain lifted the Gulf Cup for the second time as two goals in two minutes late in the second half earned Dragan Talajic's side a 2-1 victory over Oman (More)

*Correction from yesterday’s edition: there was confusion as to which Acuna had passed away. To confirm, it’s the Uruguayan winger who spent his career in South America, not to be confused with Marcos Acuna the former Sevilla left-back. Thanks to the readers who pointed this out.

ROUTERS’ VOICE

Yesterday, we asked you: If Arne Slot wins the Premier League with Liverpool this season, does his success overshadow or elevate Jurgen Klopp’s legacy?

🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🌧️ Overshadows... (23%)

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🤩 Elevates... (69%)

🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (write in!)... (8%)

Your punditry takes:

• 🤩 L.E: “It undoubtedly elevates Klopp's legacy! Like a son who inherited his father's wealth the son (Slot) can say he's rich, but from the efforts of others (Klopp).”

• 🤩 M.M: “This is Klopp’s squad! He laid the foundations for this season and brought back the belief. Slott has come in knowing he didn’t need to reinvent the wheel and has done an amazing job at building on the foundation.”

• ✍️ J.M: “Neither. He had a very good squad and has done well in a season where the main competitors to Liverpool (City and Arsenal) have been hit with various injuries to key players and have consequently performed poorer than last season.”

EXTRA TIME

Brian Clough’s Forest success explained 50 years on.

Opta’s latest Premier League predictions released…

… and which Premier League teams time-waste the most?

Steven Gerrard to become a grandfather.

Carlo Ancelotti’s cool photo reel.

New footage of Everton’s stadium development. (video)

Players who have been sent off on their debut.

When Redknapp brought a fan on to play for West Ham.

Why you should go man-for-man against Real Madrid.

GAME FACE ON

Question: Who scored the first Premier League goal of 2025?

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

English League Cup

• Arsenal vs Newcastle (20:00)

English Football League Trophy

• Port Vale vs Wrexham (19:00)

Spanish Copa Del Rey

• Eldense vs Valencia (20:00)

*All time in UK. ET -5. CST -6. PST -8. MST -7. CET +1.

Answer

Gabriel Jesus, in Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Brentford.