Key issues facing clubs as Premier League returns
Players are back from international break with the top flight taking shape and priorities emerging. Telegraph writers identify what managers need
ARSENAL Ozil’s role
The 5-1 thrashing of Fulham provided yet another opportunity to question the role of Mesut Ozil.
Rarely has the case for benching the German (right) been as persuasive as it is now, in the aftermath of Arsenal’s finest performance of the season. Arsenal looked fluid and powerful in a 4-4-2 formation that has no obvious place for Ozil, who missed it with a back problem. To play Ozil, Unai Emery will have to change the system that served him so well. It is a minor issue, given the nine straight wins, but it could easily become a major headache.
BOURNEMOUTH Off-field progress
Have made a fantastic start and the only downbeat news is that the plans for a new stadium have been put on hold. A big ambition for manager Eddie Howe is to lead Bournemouth to the next level, off the pitch as well as on.
The club could barely have imagined being in the Premier League’s top six but, if the stadium is seriously delayed, there might come a point at which Howe (right) questions how much further he can take them.
BRIGHTON Keeping Murray firing
Brighton’s start has been more than satisfactory, especially as they have already faced Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City in the opening eight matches. The aim now will be to accumulate points against those clubs who will also be first prioritising safety. One concern could be an apparent reliance on Glenn Murray for goals – he has five of their nine in the league this season, and history suggests his form comes and goes in bursts.
BURNLEY How to hurt big boys
With a trip to Manchester City on Saturday before Chelsea come to Turf Moor, Sean Dyche will be grateful his side recovered from a poor start to earn seven points from the last nine.
Burnley managed to rough up City a little in the FA Cup last season before being brushed aside 4-1 and Dyche may opt for a similar approach this time around as he plans for the game. In the meantime, he will be eager to get winger Robbie Brady (above, right) and defender Ben Gibson back.
CARDIFF Finding some X factor
Nobody is doubting Cardiff ’s spirit, but the biggest concern for Neil Warnock must be the dearth of match-winners in his squad.
Cardiff look painfully limited in creativity and goalscoring – they have four in eight games. After facing Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Spurs in four of the past five games, Saturday’s meeting with Fulham at least looks less daunting, but it already has the feel of a game they cannot afford to lose.
CHELSEA Securing help for Hazard
Chelsea are controlling matches impressively, but a lack of reliable goalscorers and their misfiring strikers threaten to derail a fledgling title challenge.
Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata (bottom, left) have scored two goals between them. Eden Hazard is in imperious form, but unless their centre-forwards start to pick up the slack they will need the Belgian to carry a hitherto unseen goal threat. Hazard’s best Premier League tally in six seasons at Chelsea is 16.
CRYSTAL PALACE Unearthing a Plan B
After a bright start, Palace’s season is in danger of falling very flat. Seven points from eight games – only one of which was against one of last season’s top four – is a serious cause for concern.
Internecine squabbling between the club and a high-profile fans’ group, the Holmesdale Fanatics, has punctured Selhurst Park’s atmosphere, although the team are hardly doing their bit – Palace yet to score even at home. When Wilfried Zaha (below) is crowded out there is a conspicuous lack of Plan B.
EVERTON Replacing Lukaku (one year on)
Everton’s problem this season is the same as last. They need a No9. Romelu Lukaku was not replaced.
Cenk Tosun works hard, but is not top-six quality. Dominic Calvert-lewin is still a work in progress. Oumar Niasse is not a Premier League standard striker. Richarlison was successfully converted into a No9 at Leicester, but it is not ideal as he offers a threat in a deeper role. Until a topquality striker is found results will continue to be inconsistent.
FULHAM Finding right balance
Fulham need to either strengthen their attacking prowess or lessen weaknesses in defence. Too often they have been flimsy at the back, while their attacking patterns have not been good enough. Can Slavisa Jokanovic find a way of solidifying his defence without compromising on his attacking ambitions? They might get away with it at Cardiff on Saturday, given all five of their points have come against teams who are more direct in their play.
HUDDERSFIELD Improvement at both ends
Manager David Wagner is not under the sort of pressure that other managers would be after failing to win a game but problems are mounting. Huddersfield’s main problem is combining defensive solidity with an attacking threat. They are failing to do both.
Only Fulham have conceded more this season, yet nobody has scored fewer than Huddersfield.
LEICESTER Defensive changes
Claude Puel spent nearly £35million on centre-halves but has still persisted with Wes Morgan, sent off for the second time in three Premier League games. Such loyalty from Puel does raise suspicions over why Jonny Evans, Caglar Soyuncu and Filip Benkovic were brought in at such expense. With Morgan (far left) suspended, Evans (left) should finally get a chance at Arsenal on Monday.
LIVERPOOL New signings stepping up
When Naby Keita and Fabinho were signed, there was a presumption two-thirds of Liverpool’s firstchoice midfield was in place but neither has fully adjusted to the Premier League yet.
While Jurgen Klopp will give them time, he cannot afford to wait too long if Liverpool are to stay in the title race, especially with Adam Lallana (left, centre) eager to return.
MANCHESTER CITY Getting back De Bruyne
Pep Guardiola has already had a number of injury setbacks but the City manager will be eager to see whether Kevin De Bruyne has recovered as he prepares to welcome back the Belgium midfielder following a knee injury that has restricted him to just half an hour of football. De Bruyne’s return will be a huge fillip and Guardiola will hope it helps to galvanise his team.
MANCHESTER UNITED Finding a settled back-line
Jose Mourinho probably welcomed the respite afforded by the international break and, given how shambolic his defence looked in the 3-2 win over Newcastle, he will need to have used the time wisely to come up with a way of trying to limit the influence of Eden Hazard ahead of the visit to Stamford Bridge on Saturday. United’s back-line look susceptible to pace and quick movement and Mourinho’s persistent chopping and changing at centre-half seems to exacerbate the problem.
NEWCASTLE UNITED Ignoring board woe
What happens in the January transfer window will not only have a huge bearing on Newcastle’s ability to avoid the drop, it will also effectively decide the future of Rafael Benitez (left, top), who will sign a new contract only if owner Mike Ashley releases cash for him. The problem is that by then, Newcastle could be in deep trouble: they must capitalise on a run of 10 games against sides outside the top five.
SOUTHAMPTON Closing out wins
“Getting over the line” has not just been a huge problem recently for Southampton but also manager Mark Hughes (far left, second from bottom), who has won only eight of his past 38 Premier League games. Southampton have dropped 13 points from winning positions since Hughes became coach. They have conceded 10 Premier League goals without scoring and must now work on how to see out games.
TOTTENHAM Reigniting Eriksen
Christian Eriksen has been absent since the end of September with an abdominal injury, but was below his best during the early weeks of the season before that setback. His first six league starts of the season yielded just two assists and no goals. A minimum standard of intensity is a given with Spurs, but without Eriksen (left, in the centre) purring they can appear a touch blunt and unsubtle.
WATFORD Rediscovering their grit
In their first five games this season, Javi Gracia’s side conceded only three goals. In the five games since, they have let in 11, including four at home to Bournemouth. They will be without the suspended Christian Kabasele and Jose Holebas (central presentation, bottom right) for the trip to Wolves on Saturday. Gracia will need to find a new defensive formula, and quickly.
WEST HAM Finding role for Wilshere
With Jack Wilshere due to return to full training, Manuel Pellegrini faces a difficult decision regarding how best to employ him. West Ham have looked far more balanced without him. Clairvoyance was not necessary to foresee that Wilshere and Mark Noble would not provide adequate protection and athleticism in central midfield. The introduction of Declan Rice (far left, bottom) and Pedro Obiang has improved matters.
WOLVES Controlling expectations
After six Premier League games unbeaten, optimism is building and Nuno Espirito Santo’s side should realistically be targeting seventh, or even sixth, as a possible finish. All this hyperbole and positivity will be abhorrent for Nuno, however, who will face a huge battle to keep a lid on such expectations.