Premier League talking points: Man City in spotlight with trip to Liverpool

Will Palace give old boss Glasner late gift on Selhurst Park return?

Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest - Sunday, 2pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports

Oliver Glasner left Selhurst Park a hero at the end of May when his side lifted the Conference League trophy, their first ever European silverware, in his final game in charge.

He returns barely four months later hoping his old side will be in generous mood as he looks to build some consistency following what has been an odd set of results in his first five league games in charge of Nottingham Forest.

Draws with Liverpool and Spurs were decent results and it looked like things had begun to settle with victory at Aston Villa, but the scoreline from, and the nature of, the 1-0 reverse at home to previously winless Coventry last time out will have stung.

Palace themselves are still adjusting to the post-Glasner era under Pierre Sage, and defeat at home to Ipswich last time out was particularly dispiriting.

They will be as aware as anyone of underestimating their old boss, who won only one of his first seven games in charge of the Eagles before winning six of his next seven and never looking back. His former employers will just have to hope this isn't the weekend that things click this time around.
Ron Walker

Can the Toffees tame the Tigers?

Hull City vs Everton - Sunday, 2pm, live on Sky Sports

The international break may have come following Hull's first Premier League defeat of the season, but that sentence alone is enough for fans to be overjoyed. Up until matchday five they had earned their place inside the top four with a remarkable start.

They return to action in eighth, which is still a major overachievement even at this stage. One place above them, is Everton.

The Toffees have been quietly going about their business and remain unbeaten. Given the question marks over their squad following the summer transfer window, it's yet another mightily impressive start spearheaded by David Moyes.

It makes for an intriguing return to league action for both sides, who will no doubt be riding a wave of positivity. The visitors though have a chance to teach the hosts a real lesson.

Last season, Everton were the seventh-best team in the Premier League on away turf. This term, they have picked up points on their travels to Bournemouth and Tottenham. If there's one thing they know how to do, it is keep home fans quiet.

That will be easier said than done at the MKM Stadium given the buoyant atmosphere one would expect. However, if Everton can produce a trademark on-the-road performance, it could be a sobering experience for Hull and a dose of reality that there is still a long way to go before you can celebrate anything.
Callum Bishop

Can Liverpool produce statement win to kick-start Iraola reign?

Liverpool vs Man City - Sunday, kick-off 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports

Anfield would be red hot any time Man City came to visit, but after recent events, expect a particularly volatile atmosphere on Sunday for a clash that could act as a springboard for Andoni Irola's Liverpool reign.

While the Basque is still unbeaten and could become only the third permanent Liverpool manager to avoid defeat in each of his first six top-flight matches in charge of the club this weekend, he has enjoyed a favourable run of fixtures to begin his tenure.

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That all changes now though, with the Reds face a tough-looking trip to Brentford, before hosting in-form Brighton & Hove Albion and champions Arsenal following the City encounter, an exacting league run that will tell us much more about how well Iraola's ideas are taking hold.

The Liverpool head coach does have injury worries to key personnel to contend with, but if he can overcome those to produce a statement win in front of the watching world on Super Sunday, then players and fans will really start to believe in the new man.
Rich Morgan

How will City's perfect start be affected by Premier League verdict?

Anfield is famous for its atmosphere, but the mood awaiting Manchester City on Sunday will be unique. What a venue for City's first game since an independent commission judged they broke Premier League rules between 2009 and 2018. Seismic.

City are appealing, of course, but the Liverpool crowd will deliver their own verdict and expect it to be vociferous. On the pitch, for what that is worth, Enzo Maresca's City side are defending a perfect record of five wins from five and are currently top of the table.

Andoni Iraola is also unbeaten since taking over at Liverpool but with three draws from their opening five games, this feels like the first big test of his reign - and his team's own title credentials. Whatever happens, all eyes will be on an Anfield clash to remember.
Adam Bate

First PL win in 25 years secured… now Coventry aim for home victory

Coventry vs Newcastle - Monday, 8pm, live on Sky Sports

The international break arguably came at the worst possible time for Coventry. Frank Lampard's side earned a vital 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest, their first top-flight win in 25 years. However, a three-week break denied Coventry of the chance to build momentum following a poor start to the season.

Home matches have been miserable so far this campaign. They've lost all three in all competitions, with an aggregate score of 9-1, including two goalless defeats in the league.

Only five teams in Premier League history have lost each of their opening three home matches of a campaign without scoring, a record they'll be desperate not to join.

Newcastle's the name that arguably excites Lampard the most when checking the fixture list. The former midfielder won 16 times against this weekend's opposition as a player, and only Crystal Palace have been defeated more times (5) than Newcastle (3) with Lampard in the opposition dugout.

Coventry, however, have not had much success against Newcastle. The hosts have lost seven out of their last eight encounters, including five in a row.

But with Newcastle's last away league game ending in a thumping loss to Leeds, and Coventry tasting a Premier League win for the first time since 2001, could Monday bring their first home top-flight win in 25 years? Luca Adewale

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