1
Son faces changing of the guard at Spurs
The contrast is significant. Newcastle arrives on the back of four league wins and four clean sheets. Tottenham have one victory in their last seven league games, conceding four goals against Chelsea before conceding six goals from a devastating Liverpool side. Spurs have had few problems going forward, but concerns remain over the results of their captain, Son Heung-min. The South Korean has had a quiet season by his excellent standards, seven goals in all competitions so far, an eighth nullified by a penalty miss against Wolves. Hamstring problems hampered him earlier in the season and, amid Spurs' wider struggles, there is the subplot of a change in status within their attack. Dejan Kulusevski has become the central figure; Brennan Johnson, on the right, is Spurs' top scorer in all competitions; Dominic Solanke is slowly finding his way. As Son approaches a decade in north London, the future is taking shape. Taha Hashim
2
Leicester needs defensive reinforcements
Leicester have suffered four successive defeats but should not be too disheartened, especially as that run included visits to Anfield and St James' Park. Ruud van Nistelrooy's team improved a lot in the defeat against Manchester City, but smart business in January is essential. Scoring has not been a problem: Leicester have scored more than manchester united – but they look light as a central defender. In January 2015, Robert Huth's loan move helped save Leicester's Premier League status ahead of their notable title win the following season. “It's important to use my network in opportunities to strengthen the team,” Van Nistelrooy said this week. Victor Lindelöf has been linked. It would be a smart move for Leicester, who could jump out of the relegation spots with a win at Villa. michael butler
3
Kerkez in the right place at the right time
Milos Kerkez is a hot name in the January transfer window. Manchester United have been linked with the 21-year-old, who has excelled at Bournemouth. The left-back will be encouraged by the interest shown, but will need to be careful not to abandon ship too quickly. Kerkez previously made a wrong move by leaving Hungary too early and wasted a year in Milan in 2021 after receiving a persuasive phone call from Paolo Maldini, never getting close to a first-team appearance in Italy. Good players can stall and sometimes ruin their careers if they make the wrong move. If Kerkez is truly confident in his ability, he should stay at Europe-chasing Bournemouth under the excellent Andoni Iraola, at least until the summer, when he could choose from Europe's elite clubs. MEGABYTE
4
Eze, eager to resume his scoring services
Oliver Glasner described it as “the circle of football” which began when Eberechi Eze's free kick against Brentford just 10 minutes into the season was harshly disallowed. Having reached double figures in the last two seasons at Crystal Palace, the English midfielder had only managed one league goal: against Saturday's rival Chelsea in September – during this campaign until he scored the winning goal against Southampton last week. Glasner hopes Eze's change of fortune can help his team continue their upward trajectory, having not lost a game against anyone other than Arsenal since November 9. The 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season ended a 14-match losing streak against Chelsea, with Palace aiming for their first win over their London rivals since October 2017. Ed Aaron
5
Haaland can make money against the Hammers
The scorers from the last time West Ham beat Manchester City in the Premier League? Victor Moses and Diafra Sakho claimed a 2-1 win at the Etihad in 2015, with Kevin De Bruyne offering consolation in his first season at the club. It's been a while. So the Hammers will be welcome this weekend as City look to continue their rehabilitation. a 2-0 win over Leicester Sunday ended a five-game winless streak in all competitions, a brief respite from a difficult December. Erling Haaland will be particularly hungry, facing a blistering Liverpool defense and having scored a hat-trick against Julen Lopetegui's strugglers at the start of the season when things seemed to be going well for the champions. Or perhaps, like the rest of the league, West Ham will see a team with its shine washed away and ruining City's new year and its new resolutions. T.H.
6
The Saints seem resigned to relegation
Despite Brentford's remarkable home form, they have the worst away record in the division – just two points gained from nine games played. Southampton are easily the worst performers at home, meaning something has to give when Brentford travel to St Mary's. No team has ever survived in the first division with six points after 19 games and Southampton's mental strength is surely not helped by Adam Lallana's comments. “At the end of the season, there could be relegation,” the veteran midfielder said this week. “Hopefully not. If we have to go down, we will go up again. “That’s my mentality if that happens.” With so many points still to fight for and a new coach, there will surely have to be more fight in the home locker room on Saturday. MEGABYTE
7
Hürzeler hopes his luck improves
Fabian Hürzeler can never be accused of being a pessimist. While his team goes into Saturday's game against Arsenal without a win since late November, five draws and two defeats in that run are an indication that Brighton have not performed too badly. “I see the positive things in my life,” Hürzeler said this week. “I am sure that one day the glass will be very full.” But in the absence of Danny Welbeck, Brighton's top scorer, goals have been difficult to come by, especially at the Amex, where they have only managed two in their last three games. With no deadline for Welbeck's return and Evan Ferguson also injured, the responsibility falls on João Pedro, who scored the equalizing goal in Brighton's 1-1 draw at the Emirates in August, but has only scored four goals this season, to provide some advantage against Mikel Arteta's side. EA
8
Rampant Robinson shares rise
If Antonee Robinson ever sounded like a Pro Evolution version of Andy Robertson, she's now the real deal. He Fulham The left-back picked up his seventh league assist this season against Bournemouth last weekend, a right-footed cross that found the head of Harry Wilson. Only Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka have scored more goals in the Premier League this campaign, and Robinson's creativity helped Fulham to a seven-match unbeaten run. The frustration for Marco Silva's side is that only two of them have been wins, and their only clean sheet was at home against bottom-of-the-table Southampton. If his assists were to add a few more defensive shutouts, Robinson's standing would grow even more. T.H.
9
Amorim must be practical at Anfield
Rubén Amorim once again defended his favorite 3-4-3 formation on Monday despite abandoning it in the 33rd minute of Manchester United's loss to Newcastle. Even then he reacted too late. United's aging central midfield of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen was easily outclassed by Newcastle's three before the introduction of Kobbie Mainoo for the humiliated Joshua Zirkzee. It will take more than a personnel change to prevent Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones or Dominik Szoboszlai from controlling the process. Arne Slot's clever use of the resources he inherited stands in stark contrast to a procession of United managers, not just Amorim, who have made the worst start at Old Trafford in 103 years. Training principles may be sacrosanct to the new head coach, but Anfield, the scene of several humiliations for United in recent years, is surely the place for practicality. andy hunter
10
Wolves to see what could have been
Nuno Espírito Santo is winning the break. Three and a half years since leaving Wolves “by mutual consent”, the 50-year-old returns with his share price higher than ever. There was a setback at Spurs and a year in Saudi Arabia before his transformation into Nottingham Forest from relegation candidates to Europe chasers. Molineux fans this weekend may take a moment to wonder about the alternative timeline had Nuno stayed, having taken them on a similar journey during his four-year stay at the club. Vítor Pereira is his fourth coach since Nuno's departure, with a stability long forgotten in these parts. T.H.
