Summer Series: Tonali v Torres key in clash of top-four rivals

Alex Keble looks at key talking points ahead of the Premier League Summer Series matches being played in Philadelphia.

Newcastle v Aston Villa

There is growing belief that Newcastle United and Aston Villa will be direct rivals for fourth place in the 2023/24 season, and so for Villa in particular their Summer Series opener is the chance to ruffle some feathers.

Yes, it’s only a friendly, but a significant performance would add to the sense of the club’s rise under Unai Emery and, just maybe, make a few at St James' Park feel nervous ahead of their meeting on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.

Not that Newcastle are unaware of Villa’s presence. A 3-0 win in April was proof that Emery’s side had closed the gap, because despite finishing 10 points behind Newcastle, Villa have been the better side in 2023. The league table from January 1 has Villa in second overall – and six points above Newcastle.

All eyes are on Sandro Tonali, the signing from AC Milan who goes head-to-head with Villa’s marquee addition Youri Tielemans.

Tonali already impressed on his first Newcastle appearance against Rangers this week, which was described as one of “high promise” by his manager.

“He was very good, calm and composed, as I know he is,”  Eddie Howe said after the match. “Everyone knows that English football is very different and a real change in style. Great signs from him, though, that he has taken it in his stride.”

See: How Tonali is emerging from the shadows of Italian greats

Playing this experienced Villa midfield will certainly be a sterner test of just how quickly Tonali can adapt from a more cautious and counter-acting style at Milan to possession-centric Newcastle in a fast-paced league.

And yet the real challenge for Tonali and Newcastle probably won’t be in a traditional midfield battle. Emery has signed centre-back Pau Torres to improve Villa’s distribution out from the back, and given Tonali’s tendency to ferret forward in search of the ball, the combination of these two players might lead to an exaggerated version of what we saw in Villa’s 3-0 victory in the spring.

See: How will Torres improve Emery's defence?

As we highlighted at the time, Villa created numerous chances that match thanks to the positioning of John McGinn and Aaron Ramsey, who dipped infield – behind the Newcastle midfielders – to pick up the ball in dangerous pockets.

In a similar pattern this weekend, we may see Tonali, still adapting, rush out to meet Torres, who would cope well with the pressure and fire clever line-breaking passes through that gap in midfield and straight into the feet of Villa’s attackers.

We expect Tonali to be adventurous as an aggressive No 8 and Torres to improve Villa’s ability to progress the ball neatly out of defence.

If these things happen, and if Howe has not learnt from the way Emery picked his team apart in April, then Villa could record a statement win – announcing themselves as worthy challengers for a UEFA Champions League place.

Also in this series

Part 1: Brentford and Fulham meet facing striker issues