1Injuries the one risk for City?Fifteen factors from the opening 5 Premier League video games and a 3-1 win over Red Star Belgrade to begin their Champions League marketing campaign: all goes swimmingly for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City. Except, if extra of his gamers be part of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic within the remedy room, then Guardiola might have to hope to the medical gods for succour. De Bruyne is out till subsequent yr but, and although Guardiola recommended after Tuesday’s victory that solely Kovacic has an opportunity of returning for Nottingham Forest’s go to, there’s hope for Grealish too. Whatever the ultimate medical bulletins, Guardiola nonetheless has the match Matheus Nunes, Phil Foden, Kalvin Phillips (bear in mind him?) and Rico Lewis, who can be part of Rodri within the staff’s inventive artistry division. Jamie Jackson
Manchester City v Nottingham Forest, Saturday 3pm (all occasions BST)
2‘Fortress Kenny’ will get huge testFour video games, two objectives, no factors. The early indicators are ominous for Luton and, in some quarters not less than, dreaded speak of Derby’s 11-point tally in 2007-08 has already begun. Hatters followers, nonetheless, are rightly dismissing such premonitions at this stage, particularly when solely one in every of their opening 5 video games has been at Kenilworth Road. Rob Edwards additionally bemoaned the important thing absence of Ross Barkley (to a hamstring damage) for the 1-0 defeat at Fulham final Saturday. And therein lie the three pillars round which Luton’s survival bid will likely be mounted: Edwards’s cool head and perception within the strategies that received promotion within the first place; the mandatory Premier League aptitude Barkley gives; and naturally, the Kenilworth issue. Even after a £10m refurb to extend the capability past 11,000, speak of constructing it a “fortress” shouldn’t be as platitudinal as some hipsters would have you ever imagine. Striker Cauley Woodrow has used that precise phrase – saying it will likely be a cauldron into which opponents won’t get pleasure from stepping. Yet Luton want the outcomes, particularly in opposition to the likes of Wolves, to make it so. Dominic Booth
Luton v Wolves, Saturday 3pm
3Eagles have to preserve issues freshIn their previous two Premier League video games Crystal Palace have conceded three objectives previous the Ninetieth-minute mark. Against Wolves it was a mere comfort however at Villa Park it price the Eagles a degree. Matches are, clearly, lasting longer and longer in a determined try to chop out time-wasting and the like, which appears to be adversely affecting Palace. One problem is that they don’t like making subs. At Villa Park, assistant supervisor Paddy McCarthy introduced on Jean-Philippe Mateta within the twenty fifth minute as a result of Jordan Ayew was injured and their subsequent substitute arrived within the closing 60 seconds of regular time, with an extra coming within the 99th. Similarly in opposition to Wolves, a sport Roy Hodgson was on the sidelines for, Mateta was the one change within the first 90 minutes. If Palace are to keep away from late objectives, they might want to put religion of their subs to make sure the staff stays contemporary, in any other case these setbacks will turn out to be extra frequent because the season goes on. Will Unwin
Crystal Palace v Fulham, Saturday 3pm
4Dyche backs Beto to goal hearth at BeesHas Sean Dyche really improved Everton? The underlying numbers recommend so – the metrics are on an upward curve beneath him – but three 1-0 house defeats this season and only a solitary level from 5 matches point out the identical on-field drawback is haunting them; a scarcity of objectives. Dyche has a trump card, although, and it’s not the takeover by the 777 Partners consortium, which he believes received’t have an effect on taking part in issues anytime quickly. It’s Beto. The 25-year-old striker scored on his membership debut within the Carabao Cup, starred with out scoring on his league debut at Sheffield United and whereas he was stymied by Arsenal final trip, he’s proven he can carry the fireplace up entrance for Dyche. Given Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s wrestle to rediscover his pre-injury self, Everton should do what Saturday’s opponents have accomplished – renew their frontline. Beto and Bryan Mbeumo’s respective battles with hardened backlines will outline the result – the latter continues to impress in Ivan Toney’s absence. DB
Brentford v Everton, Saturday 5.30pm
5Onana’s kind a priority for Ten HagExcuses and diversion strategies have accompanied Manchester United on their well-trodden path in the direction of early season disaster however Erik ten Hag doesn’t get a free go for André Onana’s worrying begin to his Old Trafford profession. The Cameroon goalkeeper had the decency to entrance up following his pricey error at Bayern Munich on Wednesday, when United suffered their fourth defeat in six video games, however already seems bewildered by the chaos that Ten Hag’s ways have sown in entrance of him. More puzzling, in fact, is why United agreed a £47.2m deal for the goalkeeper this summer time when Onana – Ten Hag’s participant at Ajax for 5 years – was out there totally free 12 months earlier. Confidence might now be a problem for United’s new No 1, and others. It says the whole lot about their dismal begin {that a} newly promoted, newly constructed Burnley staff with out a Premier League win this season will sense alternative at Turf Moor. Andy Hunter
Burnley v Manchester United, Saturday 8pm
6Gunners face a new-age Spurs in NLDHarry Kane has scored 14 objectives in 19 north London derbies. Over the final decade he has nearly invariably had his say in opposition to Arsenal whether or not Spurs win, lose or draw – even when they haven’t taken three factors in a league sport on the Emirates over that point. But he will likely be watching from Bavaria when Sunday’s proceedings kick off and can most likely be as as anybody in what a post-Kane tussle appears to be like like. On the floor his absence denudes Tottenham of their most dependable weapon however there’s a sense that, in Ange Postecoglou’s courageous new world, all bets could also be off this yr. Tottenham are quick reshaping right into a slick, thrilling outfit that shares the objectives round and might go toe-to-toe in these encounters. The chances are high that they discover Mikel Arteta’s facet, who’re a lot additional into their rebuild, too scorching to deal with as soon as once more however it might rely as real progress in the event that they enhance on the sterile performances that introduced successive 3-1 defeats within the final two seasons. Nick Ames
Arsenal v Tottenham, Sunday 2pm
7Cherries want Kelly as key in defenceAndoni Iraola is but to win a Premier League match as Bournemouth head coach however a primary clear sheet in opposition to Chelsea final weekend of their greatest efficiency thus far beneath the supervisor will give hope. Considering one of many pillars of Iraola’s model is chaos, having some organisation on the again is vital. Lloyd Kelly returned to the facet that drew with Chelsea after being disregarded earlier than the worldwide break due to a failed transfer to Tottenham. The centre-back’s perspective has impressed Iraola and he ought to turn out to be the important thing man to construct a defensive unit round, particularly with new arrivals at full-back and a 21-year-old, Illya Zabarnyi, alongside him. Being an integral a part of a staff on an upwards trajectory might persuade Kelly to remain past his present contract that ends subsequent summer time, however within the meantime any Bournemouth facet with the centre-back within the staff is healthier for it and a stable defence will permit Iraola’s attackers better hope of discovering that elusive victory. WU
Brighton v Bournemouth, Sunday 2pm
8The Chilwell experiment has failedAn in depth damage checklist has compelled Mauricio Pochettino to change the enterprising method that Chelsea used throughout pre-season. Christopher Nkunku’s knee damage has disrupted the assault and Pochettino’s most notable change, using Levi Colwill reasonably than Ben Chilwell at left-back, has introduced combined outcomes. The steadiness doesn’t really feel proper and, as Pochettino appears to be like for methods to resolve his facet’s lack of ruthlessness, maybe he might determine it’s time for Chilwell to return to his favoured place when Chelsea host Aston Villa. So far the proof means that the England worldwide shouldn’t be suited to taking part in as a left winger. Colwill, in the meantime, doesn’t fairly supply the identical thrust on the left – his long-term function lies within the centre, the place his incisive passing will be more practical. If Chilwell overlaps from left-back, there’s extra space for an additional attacker to accompany Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling in Chelsea’s entrance three. Mykhailo Mudryk will hope for an additional likelihood nevertheless it might be time for Cole Palmer.
Chelsea v Aston Villa, Sunday 2pm
9Klopp’s defence bridges Van Dijk banAfter the midfield rebuild that lasted till the ultimate day of the switch window, the main focus switched as to if Liverpool had ample cowl in central defence to maintain their Premier League aspirations this season. While the clamour for a big-money recruit will proceed – for ever – Joe Gomez, Joël Matip and the creating Jarell Quansah have eased fast issues in that division since Virgil van Dijk was despatched off at Newcastle and Ibrahima Konaté was sidelined by damage. Liverpool haven’t seemed impregnable since Van Dijk acquired his pink card at St James’ Park, however have conceded one Premier League objective within the captain’s absence. Van Dijk and Konaté ought to each be out there for West Ham’s go to and, whereas any of their deputies can rely themselves unlucky to overlook out, they’ve justified Jürgen Klopp’s confidence within the depth out there. AH
Liverpool v West Ham, Sunday 2pm
10How Howe settles on midfieldIf Sheffield United have been slightly unfortunate at occasions this season – and by no means extra so than when shedding 2-1 at Tottenham final Saturday – Newcastle have loved a little bit of fortune up to now week. Indeed, a 1-0 house win in opposition to Brentford and, particularly, a 0-0 Champions draw in opposition to Milan at San Siro flattered Eddie Howe’s facet. Arguably the largest drawback lies in central midfield the place Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães aren’t connecting as envisaged. It speaks volumes that, in Italy, Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek was the sport’s greatest midfielder and Sean Longstaff the decide of Howe’s engine room. This reasonably begs the query: does Newcastle’s supervisor drop both Tonali or Guimarães at Bramall Lane? It would signify a politically freighted resolution because the £55m Italy worldwide nonetheless appears to be struggling to beat the heartbreak of leaving his beloved Milan this summer time, whereas the Brazil midfielder is near signing a brand new contract on Tyneside. Louise Taylor
Sheffield United v Newcastle, Sunday 4.30pm
Pos
Team
P
GD
Pts
1
Man City
5
11
15
2
Tottenham Hotspur
5
8
13
3
Liverpool
5
8
13
4
Arsenal
5
5
13
5
Brighton
5
8
12
6
West Ham
5
3
10
7
Aston Villa
5
1
9
8
Nottm Forest
5
0
7
9
Crystal Palace
5
-1
7
10
Fulham
5
-5
7
11
Brentford
5
2
6
12
Newcastle
5
1
6
13
Man Utd
5
-4
6
14
Chelsea
5
0
5
15
AFC Bournemouth
5
-4
3
16
Wolverhampton
5
-6
3
17
Sheff Utd
5
-4
1
18
Everton
5
-7
1
19
Burnley
4
-8
1
20
Luton
4
-8
0
First seem at Premier League: 10 issues to look out for this weekend
