1
Problems for Klopp and Frank
Starting at their outgoing manager's least favorite schedule, this time useful with Luton to face in midweek, Liverpool top the division at the cost of a sizeable injury list. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai are the main absentees, with both players likely to miss next week's Carabao Cup final. A recent flu outbreak also did not help Jürgen Klopp, who faces a coach like Thomas Frank, who is one of the outsiders to succeed him, even if the coronation of Xabi Alonso seems a fait accompli after Bayer Leverkusen's exploits last week against Bayern Munich. Frank, with significantly fewer resources, has been the charismatic leader of a similar regime in west London, whose foundations are based on athletics and metrics. That this season's wobbles have been a surprise reflects the strides Frank, a manager who shares Klopp's qualities of being wildly passionate and tenderly holistic, has given Brentford. John Brewin
2
A different Burnley will greet the Gunners
Mikel Arteta has no need to alter Arsenal's lineup following their excellent 6-0 thrashing of West Ham on Sunday, which should mean another deserved start for Leandro Trossard at Burnley. The striker has taken advantage of his opportunity in the absence of the injured Gabriel Jesús with three goals in his last four games and impressive teamwork in the victories over Liverpool and West Ham. Trossard's contribution is precisely what Arteta requires from his entire team to sustain a title challenge. However, as demonstrated at Anfield last weekend, Burnley are likely to be a tougher proposition than Arsenal found at the Emirates. Vincent Kompany's team missed several good opportunities at Liverpool and played with greater conviction than their position in the table suggests. They must improve the small details to deny Arsenal a fifth in a row first division gain. andy hunter
3
Watkins needs support up top
Villa's provisional title talk quickly boiled down to a more realistic top-four talk after a fairly barren festive period for Unai Emery's men. Now, last week's defeat to Manchester United has put Villa's qualification for the Champions League in doubt. Against a Fulham team that may struggle against them, a lot may depend on Ollie Watkins who, somewhat ironically for a team with a far superior record at home, seems to enjoy playing away from Villa Park. Four of the 28-year-old's last five league goals have come in away games. The onus, then, falls on Emery to find the right combination of attacking midfielders and wingers behind his leader. Fans were angered when Leon Bailey was substituted against United, while Moussa Diaby has been a baffling omission from the starting line-up of late. Together with Watkins, the duo can give Villa the offensive push they need to win on the road. sunday stand
4
Howe finds inspiration in old club
When Eddie Howe took a year off between leaving Bournemouth and becoming Newcastle manager, he visited Spanish side Rayo Vallecano and shadowed Andoni Iraola. Howe was so enthralled by the tough, high-pressure game, which he later swept through La Liga, that he implemented a very similar plan when taking charge at Newcastle. By one of the coincidences that abound in football, Iraola took charge of Bournemouth last summer, where he immediately set about introducing his new charges to aggressive pressing. It is an intriguing encounter at St James' Park on Saturday and perhaps explains why the two managers are not as outwardly friendly as one might expect. “We're friends but we keep a professional distance,” says Iraola, respecting Howe's reluctance to build relationships with Premier League rivals. The Newcastle boss must cope without his injured centre-forwards Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak, so eyes will be on Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke, who Howe signed from Liverpool and would love to see move to the north-east. Louise Taylor
5
Moyes under the microscope
It's almost becoming a running joke at West Ham; David Moyes always seems to be a few defeats away from being sacked. Even in the seasons in which he finished sixth and seventh, some of the Hammers support remained unhappy with the Scot. Last season's Europa Conference League triumph may have cemented his Hammers legacy, but it is now a distant memory as the familiar rumblings of discontent resurface. There is no doubt that this visit to Nottingham Forest, which precedes matches against Brentford, Everton and Burnley, is the start of a run that will determine Moyes' future at the club. Rumors of a summer sack will only get louder if Forest win at the City Ground. For all the good work Moyes has done, which fans would do well to remember with West Ham still eighth, the end may be near. D.B.
6
Wolves count the cost of beating injuries
Wolves have never had two players in a single Premier League season rack up double figures in goals. But with Hwang Hee-chan scoring 10 league goals during the campaign and Matheus Cunha nine, they are about to break new ground as Gary O'Neil's effervescent team continues to attract attention this season. It was no coincidence that, with Cunha limping off after 20 minutes against Brentford and Hwang deemed not fit enough to feature in the match day squad (he had had some “issues” while at the Asian Cup for South Korea), the Wolves fell. flat last weekend and were defeated 2-0. A hat-trick of Hwang, Cunha and Pedro Neto represents a utopia for Wanderers fans at the moment, although injuries mean they are unlikely to be seen at Tottenham this weekend. O'Neil might therefore have to opt for a more pragmatic approach against Ange Postecoglou's side. D.B.
7
Foden continues to shine for City
After reaching 251 career appearances with 74 goals to his name, with five Premier League winners' medals, one Champions League, four League Cups and two FA Cups at the age of 23, there really shouldn't be discussion about the world of Phil Foden. class status. Rio Ferdinand felt obliged to enter the debate after another fascinating display from Foden in another victory for Manchester City in the round of 16 of the Champions League. The case against Foden appears to center on his return to England: he has scored four goals in 31 internationals and has often been peripheral for the Three Lions. For City, however, he is a cold-blooded killer. That Foden stole the plaudits when Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne returned to the team and returned to fitness is a sign of his quality. It should be anyone's definition of world class. D.B.
8
Blades hopes Archer will follow up
Sheffield United may be bottom of the Premier League and seven points from safety, but last weekend they won their first away game of the season against a previously ascendant Luton side. With Chris Wilder at the helm, they are not willing to give up hope of survival. If the South Yorkshire side's concession of 31 goals in 12 home games in the top flight this season (the worst record at this point in Premier League history) doesn't help their cause, Brighton have failed to win any of their last six away league games. . Something has to give. Much depends on whether Cameron Archer, scorer of the 3-1 victory at Luton, can locate his shooting boots. The former Aston Villa striker, who excelled on loan at Middlesbrough last season, has scored just four goals since he joined the Blades and has a lot to prove. Louise Taylor
9
Ten Hag must keep the momentum going
Defeat to Sheffield United last week meant Luton failed to live up to the new expectation of being favorites to win a match. They won't have that status against United (or even this United), as Erik ten Hag's team is on its best run of results this season. Last week, dominating possession meant Luton were unable to take advantage of the speed of Chiedozie Ogbene or Carlton Morris, and Ross Barkley ended up conceding the ball for the final goal of a 3-1 defeat. The first league match at Kenilworth Road since a 1-1 draw in 1992 (with goalscorers Lee Sharpe and Mick Harford) will conclude a week in which United news has left the field, with Sir Jim's minority stake confirmed Ratcliffe and Newcastle's sporting director, Daniel Ashworthand Southampton's director of football, Jason Wilcox, being courted. If Ten Hag wants to be part of that new corporate structure next season, he cannot allow his team's winning streak to end in Bedfordshire. J.B.
10
Hodgson's health the most important thing
It would be unseemly for Crystal Palace to sack Roy Hodgson while their manager is ill in hospital, as well as a sad way for the 76-year-old to presumably end his coaching career, but the wheels are clearly in motion for Oliver Glasner to take charge of Selhurst Park and lead the club's fight against relegation. The former Eintracht Frankfurt manager's appointment may not come before Monday's visit to Everton, where Hodgson's assistants Ray Lewington and Paddy McCarthy are expected to lead the team in what would be extremely difficult circumstances. Both teams desperately need victory amid poor runs of form – Everton have won just once in 11 games, against Palace in the FA Cup, while the visitors have three wins in 19 – but, in reality, that is secondary to Hodgson's health and his prospects for a full recovery. oh
