Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend
Tsimikas gets chance to shine
Kostas Tsimikas has started 18 Premier League games since joining Liverpool for £11.75m from Olympiakos in 2020; never threatening to take Andy Robertson’s place at left-back but proving himself a dependable stand-in with a decisive contribution to the 2022 FA Cup victory thrown in for good measure. Liverpool’s reliance on “the Greek Scouser”, as he is known at Anfield, is set to increase for the foreseeable future with Robertson sidelined by a shoulder injury suffered in Scotland’s defeat by Spain. Tsimikas faces an intense start in the first Merseyside derby of the season, although how much his defensive attributes will be tested may depend on the tactics Sean Dyche adopts at Anfield. Liverpool coped adequately the last time Robertson was absent for a sizeable period – winning three, drawing one and losing one of the five matches he missed 12 months ago – and need his deputy to seize a rare chance to impress as Jürgen Klopp’s side seek a return to winning ways. Andy Hunter
Liverpool v Everton, Saturday 12.30pm (all times BST)
Are City too slick to keep losing?
To find the last time a Pep Guardiola side suffered three straight league defeats you have to rewind to May 2015, when Bayern Munich went down to Bayer Leverkusen (2-0), Augsburg (1-0) and Freiburg (2-1). After Manchester City’s defeats to Wolves and Arsenal, Brighton can extend the losing streak if they beat the champions on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium. That is easier said than done: both recent defeats were away from home, with Rodri absent, and part of Guardiola’s managerial genius is his ability to solve midseason problems. Against Roberto De Zerbi’s fluid pass masters, City’s performance will be a sign of whether recent form has been a blip or part of a deeper malaise. Jamie Jackson
Manchester City v Brighton, Saturday 3pm
Tonali turmoil rocks Newcastle
It is thought that, at some point next week, Sandro Tonali will learn his punishment for contravention of Italian betting regulations during his time at Milan. When the Italy midfielder swapped San Siro for St James’ Park in the summer, Eddie Howe said he was “delighted and surprised” by Milan’s decision to sell their star to Newcastle for £55m. Howe is now braced for Tonali to receive a worldwide ban from football, which is expected to sideline him for the rest of this season at least. The feeling is that Newcastle’s manager will involve the 23-year-old in some capacity against Crystal Palace in what may be Tonali’s last Premier League game for some time. Howe is thought to harbour considerable sympathy towards Tonali, and the smart money is on the former Italy Under-21 captain getting an outing off the bench as Howe rests midfield legs for Wednesday’s home Champions League fixture against Dortmund. Louise Taylor
Newcastle v Crystal Palace, Saturday 3pm An early six-pointer for slow starters?
Brentford are drifting towards the drop zone, in 15th place with just a three-point gap separating them from their 18th-placed visitors this weekend. Both teams are yet to win a home game this season and, while there are mitigating circumstances for a Bees team with a mounting number of absentees all over the pitch, they will be hoping to end that run by beating opposition who have conceded the second-most goals in the league so far (20). The last time these two clubs met, back in March 2022, an Ivan Toney double was enough to snatch the points from Sean Dyche’s side. Now led by Vincent Kompany, Burnley secured their first league win of the season at fellow promoted strugglers Luton Town before the international break, and go in search of more precious points on the road. MorganOfori
Brentford v Burnley, Saturday 3pm
to haunt Bournemouth?
O’Neil back
“I don’t feel good about it, I don’t feel happy,” said the Bournemouth owner, Bill Foley, in June after his controversial decision to sack Gary O’Neil. “It wasn’t about Gary, it was about a different opportunity,” he said, as the club swooped for Rayo Vallecano’s Andoni Iraola. Four months on from that sliding doors moment, eight games into Iraola and O’Neil’s reigns at Bournemouth and Wolves respectively, and Foley might be cursing his own ambition. Iraola arrived with the promise of a swashbuckling, attacking style yet patience is starting to wear thin as the club await a first league win of the season. And while it hasn’t all been plain sailing for O’Neil since he was parachuted in to replace Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the campaign, Wolves are unbeaten in three league games, with O’Neil getting the better of Pep Guardiola at the end of September. The understated Englishman could crank up the pressure on his successor with an away win on Saturday. Be careful what you wish for? Dominic Booth
Bournemouth v Wolves, Saturday 3pm Forest should aim higher this term
After two wins, three draws and three defeats from their eight Premier League matches so far, Nottingham Forest look likely to be safely ensconced in mid-table come the end-ofterm shakedown. The visit of Luton will gauge the height of that City Ground ceiling. Failure to win this fixture might force Steve Cooper’s men to glance over their shoulder this winter, when they ought to be looking upwards. Attacking talents like Callum HudsonOdoi and Morgan Gibbs-White deserve more than mid-table mediocrity, while midfield metronome Ibrahim Sangaré – a fine summer signing from PSV Eindhoven – looks capable of playing at a higher level. The Hatters may not have such high aspirations, but they won’t be pushovers. Luton cracked the Premier League away-win code on their last road trip to Goodison Park, with Rob Edwards setting his side up to catch opponents cold on the counter. DB
Nottingham Forest v Luton, Saturday 3pm
Calmer Chelsea seek home comfort
After a chaotic season-and-a-half under the ownership of Todd Boehly and co, in which time Chelsea have bought 31 players at the cost of more than £1bn and seen five different firstteam coaches take the helm, it seems calm may be returning. Two expert away performances against Fulham and Burnley have raised hopes the west London club can make a push for the Champions League places, but they will be hoping that Saturday’s visit of Arsenal doesn’t offer a repeat of their last two home league games, both of which ended in 1-0 defeats. The subplots write themselves: the improving one-time Arsenal target Mykhailo Mudryk against the returning, much-maligned Kai Havertz, or Mauricio Pochettino coming up against his former PSG teammate Mikel Arteta. Take your pick. MO
Chelsea v Arsenal, Saturday 5.30pm Injuries mount for rock-bottom Blades
Manchester United may have a few problems of their own but Sheffield United would gladly swap places with Saturday night’s guests at Bramall Lane. As if collecting just one point from their opening eight games was not bad enough, Paul Heckingbottom’s defence has been disrupted by both the achilles injury expected to keep John Egan out for the remainder of the season and the sickening ankle damage sustained by Chris Basham during the 3-1 defeat at Fulham earlier this month. The popular player – nicknamed “Bashambauer” by Blades fans – has already undergone two operations and is out for the season. Up front, Cameron Archer, the star summer signing from Aston Villa, is taking time to find his feet in an attack which might well feature Rhian Brewster from the start on Saturday. He has appeared twice as a substitute this season after a hamstring injury – what price the former Liverpool striker scoring the winning goal? LT
Sheffield United v Manchester United, Saturday 8pm
Watkins and Bowen to impress?
With Ollie Watkins making his case to be Harry Kane’s understudy for England with the winner against Australia last week, he will be hoping for Aston Villa to continue their excellent run since a chastening 5-1 loss to Newcastle on the opening day. Moussa Diaby and Watkins have created 14 chances for one another in the Premier League this season – at least four more than any other duo for any side in 2023-24. Jarrod Bowen, who also featured against the Socceroos, has scored in all four of West Ham’s away league games this season. The only players to score in each of their first five away appearances from the start of a Premier League season are Thierry Henry for Arsenal in 2001-02 and Mohamed Salah for Liverpool in 2021-22. Good company for Bowen to be in, but either way it feels like there will be goals at Villa Park. MO
Aston Villa v West Ham, Sunday 4.30pm Bissouma a big miss for Tottenham
The current league leaders are missing Yves Bissouma after he received an automatic one-match suspension after being sent off for two bookable offences in the win at Luton. Bissouma has been the heartbeat of Ange Postecoglou’s team, finding himself second only to Manchester City’s Rodri for passes made by midfielders since the start of the season (with 586). Bissouma is also in the top 10 for passes into the final third of the pitch; he will be a big miss for Spurs on Monday night. Fulham could take advantage, having already knocked their London rivals out of the Carabao Cup on penalties in August. Marco Silva was one of the many coaches linked with Spurs after Antonio Conte’s departure and will hope his team can repeat their last league display in north London, when Fulham held Arsenal to a 2-2 draw. MO