1) Spurs revenue from shrewd summer season offers
Reducing off the provision strains between Harry Kane and Son Heung-min labored a deal with for Chelsea last Sunday, till the introduction of Richarlison for the ineffective Ryan Sessegnon offered added distraction for the house facet’s defenders, his off-the-ball runs repeatedly pulling them out of place. The Brazilian will likely be hoping to begin in opposition to Wolves and his inclusion within the lineup may nicely spell disappointment for Son. Health allowing, Clément Lenglet is more likely to fill in for the injured Cristian Romero and, with Sessegnon wanting a great guess to make means for Ivan Perisic, Tottenham’s uncharacteristically early switch dealings are already wanting as wise as they’re shrewd. A second-half alternative for Hwang Hee-chan in his facet’s scoreless draw in opposition to Fulham, it will even be no shock to see Gonçalo Guedes make his first begin for Wolves, and fellow big-money recruit Matheus Nunes may additionally characteristic. BG
2) Trio of Arsenal victories lengthy overdue
The final time Arsenal received their opening three matches of the league season, they have been in the course of a 49-match unbeaten run. At first of the 2004-05 season, as Arsène Wenger’s facet breezed previous Everton, Middlesbrough and Blackburn by an combination scoreline of 12-4, few would have predicted that it will take (no less than) 18 years for them to make such a robust begin once more. The record of Arsenal goalscorers throughout these three video games reads like a truncated roll name of the membership’s biggest gamers of the twenty first century: Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Freddie Ljungberg, Robert Pires, José Antonio Reyes and Cesc Fàbregas, then nonetheless a goofy teenage prodigy. No strain, then, on Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli. Arsenal completed second that season however, in the event that they beat Bournemouth on Saturday, they’re assured to finish the day high of the desk. WM
3) Howe’s defensive plan in opposition to champions
Pep Guardiola’s ominous warning that his already formidable Manchester Metropolis striker Erling Haaland is “step-by-step, solely going to get higher” has centered Newcastle followers’ minds on Eddie Howe’s possible defensive configuration on Sunday. Does the supervisor stick together with his most well-liked again 4 and, if that’s the case, who out of Sven Botman, Dan Burn and Fabian Schär will drop to the bench? Final week all three performed in the 0-0 draw at Brighton, however that was solely as a result of Burn switched to left-back to switch Matt Targett. On Sunday, although, Targett is anticipated to be match sufficient for restoration to full-back, leaving Howe with a dilemma. He will certainly plump for Schär and Botman, if solely as that creates a pleasant right-footed/left-footed equilibrium. With Botman and Burn each left-footed, the risks of a central defensive imbalance seem too nice to threat. Alternatively, Howe may discipline a 3-4-3 formation that includes Kieran Trippier and Targett as wing-backs. LT
4) Onana, that’s the sport
Within the absence of some extent or a goalscorer – it’s now 50 days since Richarlison was offered to Tottenham – the prospect of Amadou Onana making his full Everton debut in opposition to Nottingham Forest captures the creativeness at Goodison Park. The midfielder, a latest £33m signing from Lille, made a short however extremely eventful introduction to the Premier League at Aston Villa last weekend. Changing Conor Coady within the 81st minute, he misplaced possession within the buildup to Villa’s winner within the 86th, created a comfort seconds later and went near salvaging an unlikely attract stoppage time. Frank Lampard absolved the Belgian of blame for Villa’s second aim – “I need midfield gamers that need to obtain the ball and play ahead,” the supervisor mentioned – and Onana, who had barely educated for 10 days earlier than the sport whereas his switch went by way of, actually provided a glimpse of the dynamic midfield presence that Everton crave. AH
5) Soucek key to Hammers’ hopes
West Ham’s need so as to add extra dynamism to their midfield isn’t any secret. They’ve checked out a number of gamers this summer season, however change is but to reach. Flynn Downes, signed from Swansea, is one for the long run and, with the chase for a domineering new midfielder proving irritating, David Moyes nonetheless finds himself leaning on Tomas Soucek amid doubts over the Czech Republic worldwide’s future. The scenario isn’t ideally suited and Moyes wants Soucek to up his recreation when West Ham, who’ve misplaced their first two matches, host Brighton on Sunday. It’s a enormous take a look at. Brighton’s versatile midfield will pose loads of issues and West Ham will wrestle if Soucek, who may be weak in opposition to a excessive press, is off the tempo. Declan Rice can not do it alone. Soucek, whose scoring risk diminished final season, has to place himself about and discover a means of rediscovering his kind. JS
5.1) Taylor unfairly in highlight
Thomas Tuchel’s lament relating to the efficiency of the referee Anthony Taylor prompted a pile-on from the extra paranoid, unhinged and entitled parts of Chelsea’s fanbase, greater than 140,000 of whom have since signed a petition calling for the official to be precluded from taking cost of considered one of their fixtures ever once more. Taylor will discover himself unfairly positioned within the highlight when he officiates this match, his each choice subjected to intense scrutiny in order that any small error may be pounced upon as “proof” that he’s ultimately incompetent or corrupt. Even within the Premier League referees don’t receives a commission sufficient to place up with this form of bullying and harassment. Till the serial whiners among the many administration ranks begin getting correctly punished with large fines, suspensions or stadium bans, these officers – with out whom the sport can’t be performed – can be nicely inside their rights to down their whistles and go on strike. BG
6) Bamford overshadowing any contretemps?
After final weekend’s technical space altercation with Tottenham’s Antonio Conte, goodness is aware of how Tuchel will react to Jesse Marsch at Elland Street. Away from the pitch the Leeds supervisor is open, partaking and unfailingly courteous however, down on the touchline, Marsch typically appears to suppose he’s nonetheless the pesky enforcer he as soon as was as a participant. Such calmly managed aggression doesn’t all the time go down too nicely together with his managerial counterparts, so an intriguing subplot may centre on the dugouts. Patrick Bamford will hope to move a health take a look at in time to eclipse totally such a sideshow, although. Marsch’s key striker all the time goals to impress – and by no means extra so than in opposition to the membership which employed him between 2012 and 2017, wherein time he appeared for six completely different groups throughout assorted mortgage stints whereas failing to make a single first-team look in a Chelsea shirt. LT
7) One man’s distress is one Mings’ probability
Having stripped Tyrone Mings of the Aston Villa captaincy and left him on the bench for his or her season opener, Steven Gerrard raised quizzical eyebrows when he picked the England worldwide to begin in opposition to Everton final weekend. Whereas these exterior the Villa camp can solely speculate over the healthiness of Gerrard’s relationship together with his former captain, the long-term achilles harm suffered by Diego Carlos should imply Mings options extra prominently in his supervisor’s plans than he may need anticipated to a fortnight in the past. The absence of Diego Carlos ought to immediate the return of Ezri Konsa to Villa’s beginning lineup once they rock up at Crystal Palace, whereas the lesser-spotted Calum Chambers can also be accessible for a recall. BG
8) Barnes again to elevate Leicester
For Leicester, excellent news has been in brief provide of late however the return of Harvey Barnes from a knee harm has given Brendan Rodgers a well timed enhance. Leicester are but to signal a senior outfield participant this summer season, whereas Barnes, Wesley Fofana and James Maddison have been the topic of inquiries from rival golf equipment this summer season. There could possibly be extra positives if Leicester attain a take care of Maddison over a brand new deal, with the membership eager to keep away from a repeat of the scenario they discover themselves in with Youri Tielemans, who’s out of contract subsequent summer season. “Either side have to have the ability to discover an settlement,” Rodgers mentioned. “With James, with two years left, naturally the membership would need to shield the asset. Nevertheless it works each methods. Generally, every thing goes on to the membership. If a participant – not saying James – doesn’t need to signal it, then it may be a stalemate.” BF
9) Battle of the forwards by the Thames
Fulham will likely be hoping it’s a case of “after the lord mayor’s present” for Brentford once they go to Craven Cottage per week after their humiliation of Manchester United. Whereas this west London match-up might lack the spice of extra high-profile derbies, Marco Silva was important of his gamers’ lack of first-half depth on a sweltering afternoon at Molineux. We are able to count on them to come back roaring out of the traps in a match that might hinge on the respective performances of the rival centre-forwards, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ivan Toney. After his opening-day double, Mitrovic will likely be wanting to make up for last week’s penalty miss. Apparently, Fulham’s designated penalty taker has missed 9 out of 31 profession spot-kicks, whereas Toney has a vastly superior file of only one miss from 24. BG
10) Liverpool’s journey to basement boys
Neglect a win or a draw, can Manchester United summon a reputable efficiency of their third recreation of an already listing campaign? With Liverpool their Monday night guests the plain reply could also be no, however as Jürgen Klopp’s workforce have drawn their first two video games, perhaps there’s a glimmer of hope for Erik ten Hag’s facet. Whereas the United supervisor mustn’t should gee up his thus-far dismal gamers for a gathering with their arch-rivals, the identical equation is true for Klopp, already 4 factors behind Manchester Metropolis after solely 180 minutes of soccer. Count on Cristiano Ronaldo to begin as soon as extra regardless of his need to depart, and for United’s fragile confidence to crumble ought to Liverpool get an early aim. If that happens then the Outdated Trafford crowd must discover its voice to attempt to supply what their workforce lacks badly: perception. JJ
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