Premier League: 10 issues to look out for this weekend | Soccer

Time is working out for Richarlison. Accidents to Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani gave the Brazilian a constant run in Thomas Frank's beginning XI however, with only one aim for the reason that first league recreation of the season, he has not taken his alternatives. Now, with Kolo Muani match, the previous Everton striker has needed to make do with a spot on the bench and didn't impress towards FC Copenhagen in midweek, lacking a penalty that one other striker, Dane Scarlett, received. Competitors is fierce, even for a Spurs aspect that registered 0.1 xG within the defeat to Chelsea – the bottom by any Premier League crew this season – and hypothesis has already begun earlier than the January switch window. Each Ivan Toney (who performed below Frank at Brentford) and Dusan Vlahovic (whose contract at Juventus is up subsequent summer season) have been linked. Tottenham have cash to spend so Richarlison should take advantage of his minutes if needs to have a future on the membership, in addition to preserve himself in competition for Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil squad with the World Cup developing subsequent summer season. Michael Butler

Jack Grealish is getting all the things he needed out of a mortgage transfer to Everton – common soccer, the liberty to specific himself, the adoration of the group – however the absence of a top quality striker to complete his regular provide of ultimate balls should be galling for a participant determined to regain his England place earlier than the World Cup. From Erling Haaland to Beto and Thierno Barry is sort of the drop-off and the recurring flaw in David Moyes's crew, certainly in Everton's season, was evident once more at Sunderland on Monday when Barry missed a wonderful likelihood to make it 2-0 from Grealish's excellent cross. Barry, who price £27m from Villarreal this summer season, has not had a shot on track in 10 league appearances. The 23-year-old seemed despondent when substituted early on the Stadium of Mild and his confidence should be taking successful from each his minimal affect and Moyes's revolving choice coverage. However the Everton supervisor can not permit the established order to proceed and can give severe consideration to making an attempt one thing new in assault, ought to Iliman Ndiaye be handed match to face Fulham. Andy Hunter

It was unusual that Graham Potter missed Freddie Potts at the beginning of the season. The younger midfielder did nicely in pre-season however Potter was too fast to return to extra skilled gamers. It was a mistake. West Ham's lack of dynamism in midfield was a significant a part of why Potter misplaced his job. Potts isn't the saviour however he was excellent when Nuno Espírito Santo secured his first win as West Ham's supervisor by beating Newcastle final weekend. Nuno, although, had additionally taken some time to provide Potts an opportunity. He picked odd midfields throughout defeats by Brentford and Leeds however discovered the correct method towards Newcastle. Potts, taking part in behind Mateus Fernandes and Lucas Paquetá, gave West Ham snap and drive. He dominated Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton. That was just one recreation, although, and the problem for the 22-year-old academy product is to take care of that stage, beginning at house to Burnley in a recreation West Ham might be anticipated to win. Jacob Steinberg

Granit Xhaka was by no means the preferred determine at Arsenal. The previous tweets of New York's newly elected mayor and lifelong Gooner, Zohran Mamdani, surfaced this week after his victory. Mamdani took aim on the midfielder within the lead-up to Arsenal's match towards Chelsea on Boxing Day 2020. Xhaka proved his critics unsuitable that day, scoring a sensational free kick in a 3-1 win, and has executed the identical since leaving Arsenal. Xhaka has been a revelation at Bayer Leverkusen – the place he received the Bundesliga title undefeated – and now Sunderland, the place he's adored by followers for completely complementing the youth of Régis Le Bris' surging aspect. The league leaders will go to the Stadium of Mild cautious of their former captain, who will certainly be out to show some extent. MB

João Pedro and Liam Delap haven't had a lot time to kind an understanding. They began collectively when Chelsea visited West Ham of their second recreation of the season however the partnership was disrupted when Delap injured a hamstring towards Fulham every week later. The striker was out for 2 months after which foolhardy when he returned to motion, stupidly getting himself despatched off when Chelsea received at Molineux within the Carabao Cup final week. Nevertheless, Enzo Maresca has each forwards out there for his aspect's league recreation towards Wolves on Saturday. Delap got here off the bench throughout Chelsea's draw at Qarabag on Wednesday and seemed desirous to make up for misplaced time. A aim was elusive however there may be an argument for Maresca to begin Delap at No 9 and João Pedro at No 10 towards Wolves. Doing so may give Chelsea extra incisiveness towards a low block. JS

Andoni Iraola has seamlessly absorbed greater than £200m of summer season gross sales to maintain Bournemouth on observe. However the supervisor isn't solely making an attempt to emulate final season's document factors tally however to go one higher, with qualifying for Europe the final word goal. The membership have recruited beautifully however Iraola has additionally discovered inner options, partly out of necessity, with the midfielders Lewis Cook dinner and Ryan Christie, the fulcrum of their success final season, sidelined by knee and hernia issues earlier this marketing campaign. These accidents have allowed Alex Scott, signed from Bristol Metropolis two years in the past after claiming the Championship younger participant of the 12 months prize, to flourish. The 22-year-old has began 9 of their 10 league video games this season, another than he managed in complete final season, and is having fun with his finest run within the crew alongside Tyler Adams, the USA captain, who has additionally seized his likelihood. Bournemouth, defeated by solely Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis within the league, have recent impetus. Ben Fisher

Nick Woltemade could have taken many of the headlines for Newcastle in current months however the performances of one other German, Malick Thiaw, haven't gone unnoticed. Since making his first begin on 21 September within the goalless draw at Bournemouth, Thiaw has not missed a minute of first-team soccer and has impressed together with his physicality, intelligence and studying of the sport. The 24-year-old final performed for his nation greater than two years in the past however this week earned a recall to the Germany squad, with Julian Nagelsmann calling him a key participant. After one other towering show within the win over Athletic Bilbao, Eddie Howe defined how joyful he was to have lastly signed Thiaw from Milan in the summertime after numerous failed makes an attempt. “It felt like an extended pursuit however actually well worth the wait,” mentioned the Newcastle supervisor. MB

Separated by only one level and one place within the high half of the desk, Sunday's recreation between Crystal Palace and Brighton ought to have further spice as each side try and construct on promising begins to the marketing campaign. For Fabian Hürzeler, it's one other alternative to get one over his reverse quantity Oliver Glasner, who he has beforehand described as a “position mannequin” and sounded out for recommendation when he moved to the south coast final 12 months. Palace did the double over their fierce rivals final season for the primary time since each golf equipment had been in Division Three South nearly a century in the past – however they could be drained after their Convention League exertions on Thursday night time. Will a brisker Brighton, who final received at Selhurst Park in March 2019, take full benefit? Ed Aarons

“Till they alter the legal guidelines of the sport, restarts, set items, will at all times win and lose video games. You'll ignore them at your peril.” Did Pep Guardiola or Graham Taylor say that? Appropriate, it was Taylor, addressing his England gamers in rain-swept Poland earlier than a 1993 World Cup qualifier. Contemplating Nottingham Forest's horrible set-piece document this season, Leeds are positive to give attention to free-kicks and corners on the Metropolis Floor. Forest have conceded 9 targets from lifeless balls within the league whereas scoring simply twice from them. It's a great distance from the miserly again line masterminded by Nuno Espírito Santo, however Sean Dyche is definitely the person to whip some succesful gamers into form after the abysmal Ange Postecoglou interlude. If they will begin profitable these second balls, even higher. As Nuno toils at West Ham and Forest ponder a relegation battle, do he and Evangelos Marinakis secretly want they might have settled their variations? Luke McLaughlin

“Cease Erling Haaland” is definitely the mission for Liverpool as Arne Slot plots to execute a repeat of final season's win on the Etihad Stadium, when targets from Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai secured a league double over Manchester Metropolis. The Norwegian No 9 has netted 27 instances for membership and nation, together with 13 within the Premier League, but zoom out and the timing of this fixture ought to please the leaders, Arsenal, whose benefit is six factors over Metropolis and 7 over Liverpool. If Mikel Arteta's aspect can beat Sunderland on Saturday then any end result on Sunday in east Manchester would profit them, with a draw most likely ultimate. Jamie Jackson