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Premier League: 10 things to watch out for this weekend | Premier League

VaselineSeptember 12, 2024

0 6 minutes read

Premier League: 10 things to watch out for this weekend | Premier League

Casemiro crisis puts pressure on Ugarte

After Casemiro’s disastrous 45-minute performance in Liverpool’s drubbing, Erik ten Hag looks certain to hand Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte his debut for St Mary’s. Last time out, Ten Hag was forced to bring on the inexperienced Toby Collyer at half-time to try and provide some rest alongside Kobbie Mainoo after Casemiro’s embarrassing failure to score goals for Liverpool. Having failed to feature for Paris Saint-Germain ahead of his deadline day transfer to the Premier League, Ugarte has been given minutes under his belt for Uruguay, including a full 90 in Venezuela on Tuesday before returning to his new home to get to know his team-mates. It seems a big ask for Ugarte to perform on Saturday afternoon after a hectic few weeks, but Ten Hag has little to no choice as he needs results and is heavily invested in the 23-year-old midfielder. Will undo

Delap gets the chance to shine

It must be a strange existence being an incredibly talented youngster at one of the most successful clubs in the world. Liam Delap sat on the sidelines at Manchester City, getting the occasional chance to show what he could do, without ever looking like he would realistically be handed the job as Erling Haaland’s replacement. Instead, Delap went down the traditional route of loaning out to clubs with a very different style to City’s academy to test whether he would sink or swim. Twenty-two league games at Stoke yielded three goals, while he scored one in 15 at Preston. He eventually found a promising temporary home at Hull, where he played regularly and found the net in the Championship, until Ipswich and Kieran McKenna took notice and brought him to Portman Road after he gained promotion. In his first three appearances for the club, where he joined for a fee of £20million, he looked a dangerous No.9. A full season in the top flight will help Delap develop and show that Ipswich, like Brighton, are making the right moves in the market. WU

Glasner mulls over a raft of new faces

After a hectic end to the transfer window, Oliver Glasner has a number of decisions to make over his starting line-up against Leicester, with deadline-day signings Maxence Lacroix, Trevoh Chalobah and Eddie Nketiah all set to make their debuts. While Marc Guéhi will remain a solid foundation for Crystal Palace’s defence following much speculation over his future in the summer, the Austrian manager must decide where Lacroix – who played under Glasner at Wolfsburg – and Chalobah fit into his preferred back three. The immediate return of Palace oldies Jordan Ayew and Odsonne Édouard to Selhurst Park should provide a stern test of the hosts’ credentials as both sides bid for a first win of the new season. It will also be interesting to see whether Glasner plans to pair Nketiah with Jean-Philippe Mateta in attack, given the Frenchman’s rich form last season. Ed Aarons

Oliver Glasner may field a new team against Leicester. Photo: Dylan Hepworth/Every Second Media/Shutterstock

Will Fullkrug play for Fulham?

West Ham’s start under their new manager, Julen Lopetegui, has been fair in terms of results. Defeats to Aston Villa and Manchester City are excusable, while any win at Selhurst Park is a good one. But it remains unclear exactly how he wants his team to play, the determination that earned them that result showing the best of David Moyes rather than any wrinkles added by his successor. So far, Lopetegui has refrained from fielding Niclas Füllkrug – signed from Borussia Dortmund for £27m – in any of his team’s three league games and, while there are nine clubs who have scored fewer goals than West Ham, of their four strikes, one was a dubious penalty from a non-threatening situation and another an own goal where none of their players were near the ball. As such, Lopetegui will surely hope to impose his views on proceedings and bring in Fullkrug for the struggling Michail Antonio, provided he has recovered from an injury sustained while on international duty. Daniel Harris

Gibbs-White targets Gravenberch?

After becoming Nottingham Forest’s first England international since 1997, Morgan Gibbs-White will get another chance to show his qualities on the big stage. The No.10 uses his skill and intelligence to unlock defences, but also has a serious work ethic, willing to chase down opponents in the hope of winning the ball back. He will occupy the same area of the pitch as Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch, with the Dutchman taking possession and initiating attacks. Gravenberch is not a natural defensive midfielder; he is used in that role for his ability to retain possession rather than his penchant for the tackle. He has performed exceptionally since being deployed there by fellow countryman Arne Slot, but Nuno Espírito Santo will be prepared to test Gravenberch against the confident Gibbs-White. If Forest can disrupt him, they have a chance to continue their unbeaten run. WU

Manchester City machine keeps running

Three games, three wins, nine goals scored, two conceded: the champions have thrashed Chelsea, Ipswich and West Ham in an early-season powerplay that seems to have most other contenders as mere followers. In a 2-1 win two seasons ago, Brentford achieved the rare feat of beating Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City on home soil. That was in November 2022, with Ivan Toney scoring twice for the visitors. But he’s gone now, and with Erling Haaland already on seven goals and, as Pep Guardiola says, fitter than a year ago, a point may be the best Thomas Frank’s men can realistically hope for. Jamie Jackson

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Will Erling Haaland continue his good run? Photo: Phil Oldham/Shutterstock

Reunion of old faces in Villa Park

Aston Villa and Everton struck up a friendly in the summer, swapping players to improve their spreadsheets regarding profitability and sustainability rules. Lewis Dobbin signed for Villa and was subsequently loaned to West Brom, while Tim Iroegbunam joined Everton, with Villa paying Everton £50m for Amadou Onana, who has scored two goals in his first three games for the club. Iroegbunam has effectively replaced Onana in Sean Dyche’s midfield, but the Everton manager has a number of issues to sort out; Everton have conceded 10 goals in three league games and surrendered a two-goal lead in the 87th minute to lose at home to Bournemouth. Villa are unbeaten against Everton in the league since returning to the top flight in 2019, winning four of their last five league games at Villa Park and drawing the other. How can Dyche and Everton break that run? Ben Visser

Travers gets rare chance for Cherries

Kepa Arrizabalaga won’t get the chance to prove himself against Chelsea on Saturday, with the on-loan Bournemouth goalkeeper ineligible to play against his parent club, but another player is. Mark Travers was last a regular for Bournemouth in 2021-22, the season they returned to the top flight under Scott Parker, and since then the Republic of Ireland international has spent time on loan at Stoke in the second tier, flitting in and out of the team. A 19-year-old Travers excelled on his Premier League debut against Tottenham five years ago and with top-flight opportunities likely to be limited following Kepa’s arrival, he will get the chance to show his qualities against Chelsea with Will Dennis, who spent last season on loan at Kilmarnock, taking his place on the bench. Chelsea scored six goals against Wolves in their last away game in the competition, so Travers may have to be wary. Boyfriend

Arsenal let their colours run wild

Of course, the stakes are high in the North London derby. It has produced some memorable matches and dramatic outcomes over the years, but this time around there will be something different. Arsenal will wear their new away kit after refereeing body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) ruled that their usual kit clashed with Tottenham’s home kit because it contained “too much white”. In an age where every club unnecessarily changes their kit for away games when there is no clash, in order to sell more shirts to punters, it seems a shame that Arsenal should be forced to swap colours. A small thing, but when most traditions are sold out for the sake of profit, seeing two historic clubs in traditional designs adds to the spectacle of the event. Instead, it adds to the loss of another piece of football history. WU

Arsenal’s red shirts are noticeably absent on Sunday. Photo: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock

Crunch early game for O’Neil

Wolves always knew that two things would define their season: the end of the transfer window and a tough run of fixtures. It’s fair to say that neither has gone smoothly and Wolves, already beaten by Arsenal and Chelsea, host Newcastle on Sunday knowing that failing to pick up at least a point would result in their worst start to a season since promotion in 2018. Wolves have won one of their last 13 league games and Gary O’Neil, who signed a contract extension in the summer, is in tune with the mood music at Molineux. Wolves fans fear they are treading water but perhaps under O’Neil they will spring another surprise. “We did what we could do and we signed some good players but I think we still had the second lowest net spend in the period,” said the Wolves manager. “Above Man City, interestingly enough … we might finish above them.” Boyfriend

VaselineSeptember 12, 2024

0 6 minutes read

Casemiro crisis puts pressure on Ugarte

Delap gets the chance to shine

Glasner mulls over a raft of new faces

Will Fullkrug play for Fulham?

Gibbs-White targets Gravenberch?

Manchester City machine keeps running

Reunion of old faces in Villa Park

Travers gets rare chance for Cherries

Arsenal let their colours run wild

Crunch early game for O’Neil

Vaseline

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