Dewsbury-Hall back on familiar ground
After masterminding Leicester’s return to the Premier League, Enzo Maresca jumped ship to Chelsea. The Italian had given little confidence he would stay at the King Power, despite his success amid problems in the background and the lure of London. Maresca did, however, ensure he took one thing with him in the form of the central midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, a leading light in the Foxes’ promotion charge. While Maresca has impressed at Stamford Bridge, Dewsbury-Hall is yet to find his feet and has been limited to a cup-player role. Of his 10 appearances for Chelsea, only three have been in the league and none from the start. It might be time to show some faith in him and there is no better place to do so than his old home. Dewsbury-Hall rose through the ranks at Leicester and his £30m transfer fee this summer was highly beneficial to their accounts after financial problems. Leicester fans will welcome back Maresca and Dewsbury-Hall with open arms, the embrace the latter might need to kickstart his Chelsea career. Will Unwin
Leicester v Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
O’Riley can be pivotal to Brighton
Matt O’Riley endured a tough start to his Brighton career when he suffered an ankle injury caused by a poor challenge nine minutes into his debut in the Carabao Cup against Crawley. The midfielder missed the following three months but showed his worth on his return to help transform the game against Manchester City and score the winner. Fabian Hürzeler and Brighton earmarked O’Riley as the man required in midfield to sit alongside Carlos Baleba, who has been struggling with a knee problem, and they could be paired from the start at Bournemouth. Brighton have not missed O’Riley much, starting the weekend in sixth. Baleba is 20 and O’Riley 24, meaning they could be a long-term partnership. That is not often the way at Brighton but if they perform as hoped the pair could provide the foundation for another push for European football while increasing their value. WU
Bournemouth v Brighton, Saturday 3pm
Can Forest repeat Anfield heist?
Arsenal have picked up two points from 12 available over the past four games and are in a tricky spot. The prospect of facing the side immediately below them, who are yet to lose away all season, is a daunting one. Nottingham Forest are the only team to have defeated Liverpool this season, proving they have the cunning and quality to topple title contenders. At Anfield, Forest’s success came about by packing the midfield and stopping Liverpool from playing with fluidity. It would seem Nuno might do similar to prevent Martin Ødegaard from pulling the strings. Forest’s manager has proven his intelligence when it comes to stifling opponents, while possessing a potent attacking threat. After losing to Newcastle, Nuno will want a reaction from his players. If he can get it to resemble the performance at Anfield he could be managing a top-four team by Saturday evening. WU
Arsenal v Nottingham Forest, Saturday 3pm
Will Villa’s miserable month continue?
A winless month and four consecutive defeats across all competitions have taken the wind out of Aston Villa’s sails. Such patterns are not unknown for Unai Emery; his teams can blow hot and cold. That grim run has betrayed the fatigue of coming so far so fast and suggested that opposition managers may be cracking the Villa code. Emery’s high-risk football, when it falters, can often look one-dimensional as Villa did in successive chastening defeats to Tottenham and Liverpool. With Ollie Watkins making an international breakthrough, and Morgan Rogers getting his first cap, Emery will hope for a lift in morale. Oliver Glasner, with fewer resources at Crystal Palace than Emery, has hit on similar problems, having initially been so successful last season. It still comes as a surprise to see Palace in the bottom three. Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton recovering fitness and form could be key for the Austrian manager. John Brewin
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace, Saturday 3pm
Everton need to freshen up their game
This could be the final home game of the dreadful Farhad Moshiri era for Everton, with the Friedkin Group hoping that Premier League approval on their proposed takeover is close. A fresh start awaits – hopefully, as the club is in desperate need of one – and the same applies to Sean Dyche’s approach. He has made the team hard to beat but increasingly hard to watch; Everton are without a goal in their last two games. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has not scored in his last seven starts yet continues to keep Beto on the bench despite the Guinea-Bissau international offering the team a rare goal threat as a substitute. Calvert-Lewin could, in fairness, point to a desperate lack of quality service. Change is required, either at centre-forward or in the supply line, and while Brentford have lost all five league away games this season it must be noted those defeats have come at Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, Manchester United and to two goals in stoppage time at Fulham. Andy Hunter
Everton v Brentford, Saturday 3pm
Berge helps fill Fulham’s Palhinha void
It would not have been a surprise if Fulham had dropped off after selling João Palhinha to Bayern Munich. To their credit, though, they have managed to absorb the loss of the tough-tackling Portugal midfielder. Sasa Lukic, the Serbia international, caught the eye at the start of the season and Sander Berge has done well since breaking into the starting lineup last month. Berge was a canny buy. The Norwegian joined Sheffield United for £22m in 2020 and was relegated 18 months later. He was influential in the Championship, won promotion, joined Burnley and was relegated again last season. Fulham could give the 26-year-old stability. Berge will hope to make his sixth consecutive start when Marco Silva’s high-flying side host Wolves. Jacob Steinberg
Fulham v Wolves, Saturday 3pm
Pep stays on but City must improve
When does a feelgood vibe remain at a club despite a dismal four-game losing streak? Answer: when Manchester City and their all-time great manager, Pep Guardiola, have just agreed a new one-year deal. City look to arrest their slide against Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou’s off-the-cuff attacking unit will suit City. A side mocked as “Doctor Tottenham” – the joke being they provide the cure for a needy side’s ills – have the pace to get in behind the champions’ high line and damage them, too. A fifth consecutive reverse would cast the champions in crisis and have some (misguided) fans questioning the prudency of the Guardiola extension. Jamie Jackson
Manchester City v Tottenham, Saturday 5.30pm
Bottom meets top on south coast
There is already a 24-point gap between bottom and top as Southampton prepare to face Liverpool. Trying to find hope for Russell Martin’s side going into this fixture is tricky. At Wolves they failed to have a shot on target despite having 72% possession and they will not dominate the ball in the same manner on Sunday. Southampton’s style is about passing and patient buildup and it is unlikely Martin will ever change, even if the club’s Premier League status and his employment are at risk. All teams need an element of surprise, whether they are first or last, in order to keep opponents guessing, but Southampton’s predictability is their downfall and explains why they are bottom. Reacting when something is not working is a sign of a good coach. If Martin can bring himself to be more direct with the speed of his wingers and strikers, they could spring a much-needed upset. WU
Southampton v Liverpool, Sunday 2pm
Højlund to fill Gyökeres role for Amorim?
Amid all the fanfare surrounding Rúben Amorim, the key question is whether he will implement his favoured 3-4-3 formation and what personnel he could use to do so. At Sporting, Amorim was highly reliant on the quality of Viktor Gyökeres as his lone striker and will almost certainly give that role to Rasmus Højlund on Sunday as the only suitable player in the squad. The Danish international has shown his potential in flashes at United but needs to become more consistent. Højlund needs help in achieving this but he has some similar characteristics to Gyökeres. The Swede was not the finished article when he left Coventry for Sporting but is now one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe, partly thanks to Amorim’s support. Quick and strong, Højlund has a similar profile but two goals in 12 appearances this season is not good enough to keep him in the starting lineup in the long term. Amorim might be just the man to help him. WU
Ipswich v Manchester United, Sunday 4.30pm
Lopetegui is on the brink
Might this be Julen Lopetegui’s last stand? West Ham’s beleaguered manager could probably do without facing an improving Newcastle team fresh from a warm weather training camp in Saudi Arabia. England’s Jarrod Bowen will hope to impress in the north-east and ranks high on Eddie Howe’s January shopping list. The number of future visits West Ham might make to St James’ Park is currently a sensitive issue; while most Newcastle fans have indicated a preference for the club remaining at the stadium, the club’s Saudi ownership are currently exploring the idea of building a brand new ground, possibly four miles outside the city centre near the Gosforth Park racecourse. A decision is expected to be announced early in the New Year. Who knows where Lopetegui, or West Ham, will be by then. Louise Taylor
Newcastle v West Ham, Monday 8pm
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 11 | 15 | 28 |
| 2 | Man City | 11 | 9 | 23 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 11 | 8 | 19 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 11 | 6 | 19 |
| 5 | Nottm Forest | 11 | 5 | 19 |
| 6 | Brighton | 11 | 4 | 19 |
| 7 | Fulham | 11 | 3 | 18 |
| 8 | Newcastle | 11 | 2 | 18 |
| 9 | Aston Villa | 11 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 11 | 10 | 16 |
| 11 | Brentford | 11 | 0 | 16 |
| 12 | AFC Bournemouth | 11 | 0 | 15 |
| 13 | Man Utd | 11 | 0 | 15 |
| 14 | West Ham | 11 | -6 | 12 |
| 15 | Leicester | 11 | -7 | 10 |
| 16 | Everton | 11 | -7 | 10 |
| 17 | Ipswich | 11 | -10 | 8 |
| 18 | Crystal Palace | 11 | -7 | 7 |
| 19 | Wolverhampton | 11 | -11 | 6 |
| 20 | Southampton | 11 | -14 | 4 |
