Nick Miller, ESPN.com writer

Luck Index: Top 10 Premier League games in 2017-18 where luck played a part

The ESPN Luck Index examined how the 2017-18 Premier League would have looked if luck was not a factor. We’ll back soon with the results.

ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol and Shaka Hislop share personal accounts where luck had a significant impact in their footballing careers.
The Luck Index shows that luck certainly played a part in the Premier League last season. Here are 10 games that could have turned out very differently.
Watford vs. Liverpool, Aug. 12
Actual result: Draw
Luck Index result: Liverpool win
Liverpool thought they had a win in the bag on the opening day of last season, leading Watford 3-2 deep into injury time. But in the 93rd minute Richarlison put the ball into the middle and it deflected off a defender and the crossbar for Miguel Britos, who…

Man City ease to Community Shield victory over work-in-progress Chelsea

Sergio Aguero scored twice, including his 200th goal with Manchester City, to lead his club to a 2-0 win over Chelsea and win the Community Shield.

LONDON — Three points from man City’s comfortable 2-0 win over Chelsea in the Community Shield.

1. Man City cruise to easy victory

Ultimately, Sunday’s victory wasn’t a massive shock that last season’s Premier League champions, with a settled squad and genius of a manager, would easily beat a side who started preseason training with the old coach in charge and have thus barely had time to get used to their new manager, Maurizio Sarri.

Still, Manchester City’s amble to a 2-0 win over Chelsea…

Frank Lampard got into management for moments like Derby’s dramatic win in Reading

Tom Lawrence’s goal in the final seconds gave Frank Lampard’s Derby the victory at The Madejski Stadium.

Frank Lampard didn’t need to become a manager. He didn’t need the money, didn’t need the acclaim, didn’t need the stress. But a man has to have a purpose. In the run up to his first competitive match in charge, he spoke of the need to retain the competitive instinct, to avoid the cushy existence of the TV studio. When you’ve spent this long in football, it’s difficult to enjoy a simple life.

If avoiding a banal existence was Lampard’s motivation, then his first match as Derby County manager was…

Jose Mourinho’s biggest bust-ups: Martial, Ozil, Casillas and more

After Jose Mourinho refused to answer a question about Man United’s title chances, the FC crew question his demeanour during their preseason tour.

Jose Mourinho has allowed Manchester United’s Anthony Martial to travel to Paris, as his wife is soon to give birth to their second child.

Jose Mourinho has cut a terse figure in preseason but run-ins with players isn’t new: from Anthony Martial to Mesut Ozil, Kaka to Iker Casillas. In fact, it’s hard to find a superstar with whom the Special One hasn’t picked a fight…

We run through 10 of his most memorable bust-ups.

10. Kaka (Real Madrid)

Kaka was famously one of the nicest and most mild-mannered superstars in football, so when he says a relationship between himself and a coach was “complicated,” you can take that as his version…

Everton’s huge Richarlison deal proves how reckless spending is the new normal

The FC crew call Everton’s transfer strategy into question as reports of a 40-to-50-million-pound move for Watford’s Richarlison heat up.

ESPN Brazil’s Murilo Augusto examines the reasons behind Richarlison’s immediate impact in the Premier League with Watford after his move from Fluminense.

At a certain point in the past few years it became almost pointless to complain or be shocked about the size of transfer fees. Money appears to have little value, it’s just numbers on a piece of paper, and clubs know more will always be coming, rendering the rocketing prices of players meaningless.

But every now and then a fee will still give you a moment to stop and pause, the latest being the reported £35 million plus add-ons that could reach £50m that Everton are paying to sign Richarlison…

Five things the Premier League might learn from the World Cup

Julien Laurens takes issue with ESPNFC.com’s omission of France’s N’Golo Kante in their World Cup team of the tournament.
The World Cup offered some great insight into players who have not shown fans their best for their clubs. But what could the Premier League learn for next season?
1. Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku can play if they’re allowed
Jose Mourinho is a stubborn man. This is not exactly a startling revelation, and of course a manager who has been as successful as him must be stubborn to a point. But that has become frustrating when it comes to a couple of Manchester United players, specifically Romelu Lukaku…

Messi, Modric, Ronaldo: stars who might not feature at 2022 World Cup

Julien Laurens takes issue with ESPNFC.com’s omission of France’s N’Golo Kante in their World Cup team of the tournament.

After Julien Laurens hails Paul Pogba’s role in France’s World Cup triumph, the FC crew examine whether the tournament was a new beginning for him.

The 2018 World Cup is just the beginning for players like Kylian Mbappe but it might well mark the end of a glittering international career for several players who’ve either been to several tournaments or just the one. Nick Miller runs through ten notables who might not be in the mix, or have already ruled themselves out, for 2022.

Rafa Marquez, DF/MF, Mexico: 39 years old

Playing in a World Cup is the highlight of many players’ careers. Captaining your country in one is a dream. Rafa Marquez…

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