Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend | Premier League – USFTB
1
Glasner needs to fix Forest, fast
After seven games, Nottingham Forest’s record is eerily similar to last season: five points, five goals scored. A year ago Forest’s eighth game was a 3-0 home loss to Chelsea that marked the end for Ange Postecoglou, the second of four managers to occupy the dugout last term. There is no suggestion that Oliver Glasner is under similar scrutiny yet, but the Austrian needs to find solutions for the league’s lowest scorers. Morgan Gibbs-White is available after missing the narrow defeat by Arsenal, while Liam Delap may benefit from a return to familiar surroundings – 12 of his 14 career Premier League goals were scored for Ipswich, six of them at Portman Road. “What we need to improve is getting [Delap] into more positions where he can score,” Glasner said before Friday evening’s game. “He’s one of our best finishers.” Gary O’Neil also lacks a standout scorer, but he is squeezing goals out of his side. Eight different Ipswich players have scored in seven games; only Brighton and Brentford can better that total this season. Niall McVeigh
2
New-look Villa host Maresca’s defiant City
It was five months ago but it feels a lot longer. When these two sides met in May to finish the season, the contest doubled as Pep Guardiola’s leaving party after 10 years in the job and twice as many trophies, an era now laden with asterisks. It must be surreal for Aston Villa supporters, too. Their 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium, inspired by two goals from Ollie Watkins to complete a league double over City, came only four days after their Europa League triumph in Istanbul, where Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers and Emi Buendía were the scorers. Buendía is the only one left in claret and blue as Unai Emery builds a new side, one that has picked up in form after a single point from their first four league games. City, meanwhile, are thriving on the pitch: victory would make them just the third side to win their first eight games of a Premier League season. Taha Hashim
3
Saka injury may benefit Dowman
Max Dowman became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history with his dazzling solo strike against Everton at the Emirates in March. But the supremely talented 16-year-old has found opportunities limited this season. Dowman has played only nine minutes in the Premier League despite scoring twice against Ipswich in the Carabao Cup last month as Arsenal have tried to protect their rising star. Yet the suspected quad muscle injury suffered by Bukayo Saka in Wednesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw at Bayern Munich means Mikel Arteta is short of attacking options. With David Moyes’s side back in north London, it could be the perfect chance for Dowman to step up in his favoured position on the right flank. Ed Aarons
4
Lampard wants Coventry to toughen up
Coventry and Fulham have only met twice in the English top flight – back in 1967-68, when the promoted Sky Blues took a single point from two meetings, but stayed up by a point while Fulham went down. It is too early to call Saturday’s game a six-pointer in the relegation battle, but the two teams sit either side of the dreaded dotted line after shaky starts. Coventry have shown glimpses of their Championship swagger, particularly in the 4-1 rout of Newcastle, but Frank Lampard wants his players to start thinking like a Premier League team. “I can’t keep applauding the players, believing they deserve to be here,” the Coventry manager said. “Now we have to get over that. We can’t be too soft.” Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Ipswich all visit the CBS Arena in the coming weeks, so there is an opportunity to consolidate. Fulham were linked with Lampard in the summer, and questions remain over whether Álvaro Arbeloa is pragmatic or flexible enough to succeed. Will these sides meet in the Premier League again next season? The jury is out. NM
5
De Zerbi needs balance for Chelsea challenge
Tottenham’s recent record against Chelsea is miserable. They are on a six-match losing streak against their London rivals and have collected a paltry two points at Stamford Bridge since last winning there in April 2018. Tottenham finally have a league win – they beat Coventry 3-1 on Monday – but remain unconvincing. Roberto De Zerbi used a 3-4-2-1 system against Coventry. He had problems in midfield but now has to work out whether to change a winning team. Does he stick with James Maddison after the No 10’s excellent goal against his boyhood club? Spurs still looked short of energy at times. There is an argument to bring back Conor Gallagher’s dynamism, but would that hurt the side’s quality on the ball? Mateus Fernandes is another option but is yet to establish himself since joining from West Ham. Spurs’ approach remains hard to decipher. De Zerbi likes possession, but Chelsea want teams to open up as the Blues have searing pace on the break. Given their history in this fixture it seems Spurs should focus on tightening up. Equally they can’t be passive and need a threat on the break. De Zerbi will be searching for the right balance. Jacob Steinberg
6
Iraola waiting for Anfield breakthrough
Talk of Brighton achieving Champions League qualification for the first time will gain more credence, even at this early stage, should Fabian Hürzeler’s confident side extend their unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions. There have been six clean sheets and 23 goals scored in sequence that featured six wins in a row and the Premier League’s highest scorers will take encouragement from Liverpool’s defensive problems in the comeback against Villarreal, which were not limited to Virgil van Dijk’s early lapses. Andoni Iraola is yet to savour a first home league win as Liverpool head coach – Anfield has seen only four home wins in 13 league games this year – and he will be wary of Brighton’s various threats. But with Rio Ngumoha electric in the Champions League win, Florian Wirtz improving and Alexander Isak increasingly decisive, the ingredients are in place for another enthralling spectacle. Andy Hunter
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7
Who can rouse Carrick’s rabble?
Who can or will lift Manchester United after the latest dismal/embarrassing week? Bruno Fernandes’s abdication of captaincy duties – accusing his manager of being tactically inept – showed what a rabble the team has become under Michael Carrick; and beyond the double footballer of the year, is there another star act who can win a game? Bournemouth will hope to take advantage, register only a second league win of the season, and deepen the misery for their hosts and fans. If his side goes down to the Cherries, Carrick will surely follow: the latest victim of the United circus. Jamie Jackson
8
Disasi must make amends at Palace
It’s been six months since Crystal Palace recorded a clean sheet in the Premier League at Selhurst Park and the pressure will be on Pierre Sage against Newcastle on Sunday. Palace have conceded eight goals in four home league games this season, although they welcome back Axel Disasi from suspension after his reckless red card against Ipswich. The French defender was brought in on loan from Chelsea to add experience but cost Palace in the defeat by the newly-promoted side and had to watch from the sidelines as the Eagles were humiliated against Brighton last weekend. Disasi owes Sage a favour and he will be desperate to make up for his poor start to life in south London. EA
9
Hull and Brentford thrive off the ball
Something unusual will happen at the MKM Stadium on Sunday; either Hull City or Brentford will register more than 50% possession. In seven league games, Brentford only had more of the ball in their 1-1 draw at Leeds. The hosts, meanwhile, are comfortably the most possession-averse team in the top flight so far this season, at an average of just over 30%. Both teams have been effective on the break and successful at set-pieces, with three goals apiece from dead balls. This may prove to be a match for the purists, where one clinical moment makes the difference. The Bees head coach, Keith Andrews, will hope it comes from Igor Thiago, yet to recapture the prolific form of last season. “Thiago at the moment is a very marked man, but we’ve got goalscorers throughout the team,” Andrews said of the Brazilian forward, who has scored one goal in seven this season. “Thiago being Thiago wants to score more goals, and he’s certainly not far away.” NM
10
Mukiele issues war cry to Sunderland
Nordi Mukiele ranks among Sunderland’s best players and most influential dressing-room figures. Tellingly the former Paris Saint-Germain defender has been scathing about his team’s dismal start to the Premier League campaign and expects a reaction when Leeds visit Wearside on Sunday. “Leeds will be the right moment to show everyone we are not dead,” says Mukiele, well aware that Régis Le Bris’s side start this weekend on the bottom of the table. “We have not been good enough. Right now it’s not us; we are not Sunderland. I believe we can go back to the top. I believe in this team and this staff. We have quality.” Sunderland must use their three league fixtures before the international break – Leeds, Coventry away and Chelsea at home – to remind everyone why they finished seventh last season. Louise Taylor
