Cardiff v Burnley, Bournemouth v Crystal Palace live on Sky Sports
Saturday 29 September 2018 07:57, UK
Will Jose Mourinho select Paul Pogba? Do Chelsea have the edge over Liverpool? We look at this weekend's Premier League questions.
Manchester United will be looking to get back to winning ways after a draw and a loss this week, and travel to West Ham on Saturday before six 3pm fixtures. Chelsea and Liverpool then meet once again after their Carabao Cup clash, which the Blues won 2-1.
There are also two games live on Sky Sports with Burnley travelling to Cardiff on Sunday before Crystal Palace make their way to the south coast to play Bournemouth on Monday Night Football. Ahead of the games, we look at some of the weekend's talking points...
Jose Mourinho's relationship with Paul Pogba is certainly strained but United are not in a strong enough position to dismiss the prospect of playing the World Cup winner as they need points if they are to challenge at the top of the table. Pogba looked superb against Young Boys but garnered litte praise in the draw against Wolves. In addition, Mourinho has said Pogba will never captain his United team again, following that up with a very frosty greeting at training on Wednesday morning. But can a United team looking devoid of inspiration really keep Pogba out of the action?
Having suffered an injury-hit debut campaign at Arsenal last season, Alexandre Lacazette started this season on the bench, with Pierre-Emerick Aubaymeyang the focal point of the Arsenal attack. Now, Lacazette is that strike figurehead, with Aubameyang on the flank, and the results of that system shift have been rather fruitful.
Lacazaette has been directly involved in nine goals in his last nine starts in the Premier League, scoring seven while assisting a further two. Also, Aubameyang and Lacazette have both scored in three of the last five Premier League matches in which they have started together. Unai Emery may have found the winning formula, but will he stick with it against Watford?
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Even when trailing against Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend, newly-promoted Wolves were the better side. They were passing the ball around like a top-four side, as United remained firmly on the back foot. The result means Wolves have lost just once since their return to the top flight and are unbeaten in their last four Premier League games. They've not gone five without defeat in the top flight since November 1981.
Southampton have started the season inconsistently having alternated between defeat and victory in their last four Premier League away games - losing at Liverpool last time out - with their problems in front of goal hindering their progress. A well-drilled Wolves side will prove a tough nut to crack.
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Pep Guardiola has always said he wanted to ease Phil Foden into the Manchester City first team, giving him 15 appearances, mainly off the bench. The teenage midfielder's performance against Oxford in midweek was a further sign of his development and why he now merits a chance to show what he can do in the Premier League. At the Kassam Stadium, he created two goals thanks to sublime passes and rounded off his efforts with a clinical finish in the closing stages.
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The St James' Park faithful will not have expected to be the proud owners of just two points after six games this season. Leicester are the latest team hoping to take advantage of a team low on confidence when they travel to Newcastle. Goals are what the hosts have so far found hard to come by, losing against Manchester City and Arsenal by the odd goal. Only Joselu has more than one strike to his name this season and if things are going to improve then everyone will need to contribute.
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Both teams at Goodison Park on Saturday are known for their free-flowing style as they look to outscore the opposition but despite the wealth of talent available to Marco Silva, he has been unable to find a central striker to fit the bill in his new-look Everton. Turkish striker Tosun has made seven appearances so far this season but is yet to find the back of the net. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was the Portuguese's preferred option in the loss to Arsenal but Tosun, who scored five goals following his arrival from Besiktas in January transfer window, could be given the chance to once again prove he is the natural option to be a lone striker.
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Hugo Lloris' injury opened the door to Michel Vorm to remind people of the goalkeeper that earned the move to Spurs after shining at Swansea. Instead, he looked nervous in the defeats to Liverpool and Inter Milan. To compound the Dutchman's misery he missed the victory at Brighton due to injury and his deputy Paulo Gazzaniga barely put a foot wrong at the Amex despite his last competitive was almost one year previous. He was at fault for a goal against Watford, which leave Mauricio Pochettino will something to ponder.
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One of the quirks of the football season sees Chelsea and Liverpool once again do battle after their midweek Carabao Cup meeting, in which a stunning late goal from Eden Hazard secured a 2-1 win for the Blues. This time, we're at Stamford Bridge after Wednesday's game at Anfield giving Chelsea home advantage as well as the psychological edge of the previous victory. But Liverpool are yet to lose or draw in the Premier League, with the Blues just two points behind in the table.
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Following on their brief sojourn to Europe, Burnley have looked more relaxed and defeated Bournemouth 4-0 last week and look more like the team which finished seventh last season. Cardiff can only dream of scoring four goals in a game, having notched just three all season and seeing as Burnley are a potential relegation rival they really need to show they can compete in the top flight and at home against the Clarets in the perfect opportunity.
Eddie Howe's side enjoyed a great start to the season, losing only one of their opening five games but then they were greeted with one hell of a bump at Turf Moor as Burnley sent them packing. Bournemouth still sit eighth going into the weekend's game, a sign of their overall form, but those battling it out in mid-table cannot risk going into a slump which could derail the season.
