Squawka Predictor

Kevin de Bruyne has assists coming out of his ears – and the Squawka Talker crew discuss whether the Belgian is the best midfielder in the world.

Host Jake Entwistle is joined by guests Tom Green and Muhammad Butt on this week's episode to preview the latest round of Premier League fixtures.

Two huge heads are set to collide when Harry Maguire and his Leicester heir share the same pitch at Old Trafford but do the Foxes have better individuals than Manchester United?

And will Watford's new-old manager Quique Sanchez Flores take to the Vicarage Road dugout like a duck to water for the second time? Or could it all end in tears for the Pozzo family?

Further afield, why on earth have Valencia sacked their Copa del Rey-winning manager who will now have under-pressure Premier League managers sweating about their job security?

TIMINGS

00:02:32 - 00:09:32 | The battle of huge-headed centre-backs

'It's a shame Man Utd have a defender whose only weakness is injury.'

00:09:32 - 00:15:00 | Listener's question: Is versatility a curse?

'Man Utd's lack of squad depth could lead Marcus Rashford down the Wayne Rooney path'

0:15:00 - 0:25:15 | Man Utd-Leicester Combined XI

'Pereira is as good as any right back in the Premier League.'

00:35:21 - 00:43:09 | KDB's quest to rewrite the record books

Q: 'When does Kevin De Bruyne become considered the best midfielder in the world?'
A: 'Now.'

00:43:09 - 00:49:47 | Full Premier League predictions

"Vardy could expose the Maguire 'weakness' Roy Keane is worried about"

00:50:00-END | Why did Valencia sack Marcelino?

"They are becoming the Watford of Spanish Football" 

Arsenal host fierce rivals Spurs this weekend – but Unai Emery needs to put his Crystal Palace "tribute act" on ice if the Gunners are going to frustrate Mauricio Pochettino's unsettled squad.
Host Jake Entwistle is joined by guests Sam Long and Tom Green on this week's episode to discuss the north London derby, the injury of West Ham's unsung hero, as well as analysing the rest of the weekend's Premier League action.
Further afield – do a new-look Napoli have any hope of ending Juventus' ridiculously good home record? Mexico's most expensive player ever will be hoping so.

TIMINGS

START – 00:18:40 | North London Derby preview: Spurs' unsettled squad

'Eriksen's footballing brain improves Spurs no end.'

00:18:43 - 00:28:58 | Emery's Crystal Palace tribute act

'Arsenal's tactics vs Liverpool showed why Emery was desperate to sign a Zaha-like player... so does Palace's away record'

00:29:25 - 00:40:20 - West Ham's unsung hero

'West Ham have played three good periods of football this season... Michail Antonio has been on the pitch for all of them'

00:40:51: - 00:51:43 | Premier League predictions

'Emerson's emergence - and Juventus' reported interest - proves Sarri is a bizarre coach'

00:52:00 - 1:04:20 | The Sarri-Higuain derby

'Ancelotti could make Fabian Ruiz Napoli's most prominent midfielder this season'

Liverpool will be aiming to make a title race statement against Arsenal and a certain "next-level" midfielder could tip the game in Jurgen Klopp's favour.
Host Jake Entwistle was joined by regular guests Muhammad Butt, Will Hall and Sam Long on this week's episode to discuss the tactical battle at Anfield and preview the rest of the weekend's Premier League action.
Will Antonio Conte's Inter disrupt the pecking order in Serie A and find a way to outdo Maurizio Sarri's huge Juventus squad?

START - 00:25:40 | Can Arsenal's new-look midfield end post-2012 Liverpool woes?

'He's Liverpool's most complete midfielder in the final third'

00:25:40 - 00:38:36 | Pukki & Norwich City's unsung heroes

'Pukki can go into every game with his chest out.'

00:38:36 - 00:50:12 | Lampard & TV time seem are making Chelsea likeable - but is that a good thing?

'Chelsea risk continuing this evolution into the new Arsenal.'

00:50:24 - 1:03:59 | The rest of the Premier League predictions

'Man City love playing Bournemouth, and Raheem Sterling just loves football full stop right now.'

1:04:00 - 1:19:25 | Can Antonio Conte's Inter challenge Juventus?

'Alexis Sánchez could follow in Carlos Tevez's footsteps in finding freedom in Conte's 3-5-2.'

N'Golo Kante was everywhere during the Uefa Super Cup final – and the Frenchman's performance suggests that there are plenty of reasons for Chelsea to be positive about the 2019/20 season.

TIMINGS:

START - 00:13:29 | Liverpool's front three keep tricking us into thinking one is most important

EPISODE TIMINGS:

00:04:21 - 00:15:30 | The Premier League 2019/20 title race

"They are probably the best team in the world."

00:15:30 - 00:31:30 | Who qualifies for the 2020/21 Champions League?

"Arsenal will do their best impression of 2017/18 Liverpool."

00:31:25 - 00:49:28 | Biggest threats to the top six

"Player for player, Leicester and Everton are so even"

00:49:28 - 01:04:06 | Relegation candidates

"Burnley have nailed down their survival formula"

01:04:06 - 01:11:40 | The surprise package

"Aston Villa could genuinely finish properly top half"

01:11:50 - 01:20:30 | Signing of the season

"He can take Man City up another level"

1:20:37 - 1:27:59 | Young Player of the Year

"Solskjaer's fluid front-line will really suit Rashford."

1:28:10 - 1:40:03 | The Golden Boot & Gloves

"Harry Kane has the chance for revenge on Mohamed Salah"

1:40:16 - 1:46:25 | Playmaker Award

"I fully expect him to explode as a result. History beckons."

1:46:34 - 1:51:05 | Virgil van Dijk's successor

"Do they even need Kevin de Bruyne? Yeah they do, wait and see."

FURTHER READING:

Premier League predictions for 2019/20 explained
BT Sport's Script of the 2019/20 season

00:01:17 - 00:23:50 | Arsenal v Spurs - who's winning the North London transfer war?

"If he settles at Arsenal, people will be baffled this guy isn't a world star already..."

00:23:50 - 00:32:00 | What to expect from West Ham's new and improved attack this season

"In years to come, we will hopefully see him as a West Ham legend."

00:32:00 - 00:42:10 | What have we learned about Frank Lampard's Chelsea in pre-season?

"Chelsea's starting XI will be the Premier League opening weekend's most exciting."

00:42:40 - 00:58:30 | Where next for Gareth Bale?

"Bale is the reason Zidane [as a coach] is a thing."

It really is transfer season. Jake Entwistle is joined by Muhammad Butt and the returning Will Hall as the Squawka Talker dives headfirst into the latest rumours.

First, the Premier League: Why are Man Utd spending £60m+ on Harry Maguire? Can Leicester's midfield help them leapfrog the Red Devils? Should the 'Big Six' be worried about Everton and Wolves as well?

We then take a trip to Germany to work out how Bayern Munich will replace two modern greats. Is Leroy Sane the God-Tier option? How good is Serge Gnabry? Will anyone actually sign Hakim Ziyech and Nicolas Pepe?

Headphones on, sit back, enjoy.

TIMINGS

00:00:00 - 00:16:30 | Why do Man Utd want Maguire?

'Maguire is the ideal partner for Lindelof and solves the problem that plagued Mourinho'
'Wan-Bissaka could be key to covering Lindelof and Maguire's main weakness'

00:16:30 - 00:30:48 | Wolves, Everton & Leicester: who's most ready to gatecrash the top six?

Leicester City have one of the best midfield combos in the league'
'Rodgers is objectively a better manager than Solksjaer'

00:30:48 - 00:53:13 | Buying Munich: Replacing Robbery

'Gnabry is one of the most under-appreciated elite talents in Europe'
'Sane's young, he's German and he's just awesome.'
'It doesn't feel like Man City have ever been in this position before...'

On the anniversary of Zidane's headbutt, the Squawka Talker begins with the birth of a new World Cup icon: Megan Rapinoe. Jake Entwistle is joined by Muhammad Butt and Sam Long to discuss the USA's record-breaking triumph, the impact of England's fourth-placed finish before sharing of a few of their favourite stats.

We then move on to look at how Brazil's Copa America win could influence the transfer market this summer and the Ballon d'Or voting later in the year. The latest episode finishes by analysing what on earth is happening with Neymar and where he might end up next season. Tuck in.

PART ONE: The most dominant team in World Cup history

00:00:00 - 00:07:12 | This was Rapinoe's World Cup, everyone else was just playing in it

'She has been the icon of the tournament: even taking on Trump'

00:07:12 - 00:14:04 | Progress or regression for the Lionesses?

'Neville is a Southgate tribute act... NOASIS in a waistcoat'
'Ellen White turned into some sort of Ruud van Nistelrooy'

00:14:04 - 00:16:41 | Rose Lavelle will be the star of 2023

'In terms of consistent performances, Rose Lavelle was probably the best player at the tournament'

00:16:41 - 00:19:07 | World Cup stat battle

Muhammad, Sam and Jake pick their favourite niche stat from the 2019 tournament

PART TWO: The impact of Brazil's Copa America triumph

00:19:40 - 00:27:07 | Reminder: the GOAT right-back is a free agent (somehow)

'Dani Alves could teach Trent Alexander-Arnold incredible things'
'There would be some outrageous hug sequences between Klopp and Alves'

00:27:07 - 00:33:40 | Has Alisson broken into a five-man Ballon d'Or shortlist?

'When you're putting out Simeone numbers and not playing for Simeone - that's seriously impressive'

00:33:40 - 00:38:20 | World, meet the 'Little Onion'

'Everton, Firmino and Gabriel Jesus flourished in Neymar's absence'

PART THREE: What next for Neymar?

00:38:41 - 00:45:53 - The stat of play: on and off the pitch

'Neymar needs Barcelona's schoolboys to keep him in check'

00:45:53 - 00:57:21 - Barcelona's big signing: Neymar, Griezmann or both?

'PSG should swap Neymar for Dembélé and then sign Griezmann from PSG'