New Year’s resolutions are notoriously difficult to commit to, so here’s an easy one to get you started.
Repeat after us: ’I will watch even more of the A-Leagues in 2022’.
You can start by parking yourself on the couch, turning on Paramount+ and Channel 10, and feasting your eyes on the first games of A-Leagues action set to ring in 2022.
UPDATE: Unfortunately, the Liberty A-League clash between Western Sydney Wanderers and Canberra United due to be held on Saturday evening has been postponed as a result of the positive COVID-19 cases within the Western Sydney Wanderers team.
The first weekend of 2022 will now only see one Isuzu UTE A-League contest, as well as two Liberty A-League matches.
FURTHER FIXTURE POSTPONEMENTS
READ: Three Isuzu UTE A-League games postponed due to COVID
MORE: COVID cases cause two more A-Leagues postponements
LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: ADELAIDE UNITED v PERTH GLORY
At long last Perth Glory return to Liberty A-League action, travelling to Coopers Stadium to take on the Reds in the club’s first league fixture since December 10.
Glory are the only team in the league with a perfect record, having won consecutive games to start the season before border restrictions and surging COVID cases made it difficult for the West Australian side to continue playing consistent league fixtures.
But Alex Epakis’ side are finally back in action, ready to face seventh-placed Adelaide United on the road. The Reds have won once this season from three games: a comeback victory over Canberra United sandwiched between losses to Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City.
The first game of an A-Leagues doubleheader at Coopers Stadium provides Dylan Holmes the opportunity to make her much-anticipated Reds return, after re-joining the club earlier this month.
Key stat: Adelaide United are undefeated in their last six Liberty A-League games against Perth Glory (W4, D2), their longest unbeaten run against them.
Adelaide United v Perth Glory
Saturday, January 1 2022
Coopers Stadium
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEDT
Stream: Paramount+
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: ADELAIDE UNITED v WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Just one game remains on the Isuzu UTE A-League schedule for Round 7, with the remaining five to be rescheduled after postponements caused by rising numbers of COVID cases in clubs around the league.
And so, Adelaide United and Wellington Phoenix will take centre stage on Saturday night, with Coopers Stadium providing the backdrop for a game between two sides desperate for an upturn in form.
Adelaide are winless from five games. A long-term injury to key striker Kusini Yengi has left the Reds bereft of quality at number nine, while National Premier League defender Lachlan Barr has joined the squad as an injury-replacement for Nick Ansell who will miss the remainder of the season.
But personnel issues are also impacting the travelling Phoenix, who on Thursday revealed two players and one staff member had tested positive for COVID-19.
Key stat: Wellington Phoenix are undefeated in their last four Isuzu UTE A-League games against Adelaide United (W2, D2), their joint-longest unbeaten run against them (also January 2009 to January 2010).
Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix
Saturday, January 1 2022
Coopers Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
Stream: Paramount+
Broadcast: Network 10
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: MELBOURNE VICTORY v BRISBANE ROAR
Melbourne Victory were stung by a 5-1 Melbourne Derby loss in Round 4. It was a dismal result for the title aspirants, and one they’ll be eager to atone for against the struggling Roar.
Brisbane will be perplexed by their position on the table; sitting second from the bottom after four rounds was not what the 2020/21 finalists were anticipating in pre-season.
A string of late collapses have seen Garrath McPherson’s side throw away points, losing to Perth on two occasions through late goals and squandering a two-goal lead over Canberra United to share the spoils in Round 4.
Victory beat Brisbane 3-2 in Round 3, the third win in as many games for Jeff Hopkins side to start the season. But the progress came to a screeching half in Round 4 as City dealt Victory a hammer blow which saw the former jump above the latter into second spot on the Liberty A-League table.
Key stat: Melbourne Victory have lost only one of their last six Liberty A-League games against Brisbane Roar (W3, D2) and have won each of their last two meetings in that span; it’s the first time they have won consecutive matches against the Roar in the competition.
Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar
Sunday, January 2
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 4.05pm AEDT
Stream: Paramount+
MATCH CENTRE | HOW TO WATCH
