Spurs should march on against depleted Palace
With every passing week, Tottenham fans everywhere are telling themselves the same thing: don’t get carried away, enjoy it while you can. Their doubters are mounting up on “told you so” hill, waiting for that inevitable first league defeat of the Ange Postecoglou era. Whether it will come under the Friday night lights at Selhurst Park looks doubtful, though. Crystal Palace remain seriously depleted, without their two key attacking players in Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise. “As far as I’m concerned, they can’t come back quickly enough,” sighed Roy Hodgson, who must instead remind his side of their miserly home defensive record. Palace have kept clean sheets in their past two outings at home, but both were goalless draws against Nottingham Forest and Fulham. Containing Tottenham’s vibrant attacking duo, the smiling assassins Son Heung-min and James Maddison, will be a different matter altogether. Dominic Booth
Crystal Palace v Tottenham, Friday 8pm (all times GMT)
Jesus’s divine form hampered by injury concern
Sheffield United have made the second-worst start to a season of any team in the Premier League era and it would take some optimism to suggest a turnaround in fortunes might start at the Emirates. In fairness the Blades have only been embarrassed once – and how – in their first nine games, but Arsenal will fancy turning the screw on Saturday. The chances of that will increase if Gabriel Jesus is deemed fit to play: the Brazilian is yet to hit his stride domestically this season but has been imperious in the Champions League, beating Sevilla with a goal and assist of equal beauty on Tuesday. It was a worry for Mikel Arteta, then, to see him depart with a hamstring problem of unknown severity. A fully fit Jesus could make the difference to Arsenal’s title ambitions but injuries have hampered him since last December. Arteta will be mightily relieved if he can name Jesus in this weekend’s lineup; his opposite number Paul Heckingbottom will have one less problem to worry about if the striker does not make it. Nick Ames
Arsenal v Sheffield United, Saturday 3pm
Grealish to hit ground running – and grafting
Jack Grealish convinced Pep Guardiola he was right for Manchester City by doing the graft of chasing back for Aston Villa when playing against them. A £100m move and lead role in last season’s treble followed and Grealish showed what he can do in Wednesday’s 3-1 win at Young Boys, starting a major game for the first time since a month layoff with a dead leg. There was a meaty challenge plus an array of passes, dinks and incisive runs: the best metaphorical two fingers to the home crowd who were puzzlingly hostile. City have missed his high-grade talent at times and after his midweek run-out, Grealish is primed to start at Manchester United for the derby – a fixture he scored in last season. Jamie Jackson
Manchester United v Manchester City, Sunday 3.30pm
Playing false 9 adds up for Chelsea
When Chelsea’s squad numbers were revealed on the eve of the season, there was a gaping hole between Enzo Fernández (No 8) and Mykhailo Mudryk (No 10). It seems nobody wants to be Chelsea’s No 9 – either literally or figuratively. Armando Broja (No 19) found the net against Fulham playing in that position at the start of this month, but has had little success since and was hooked at half-time for Nicolas Jackson (No 15) against Burnley before picking up another injury. Jackson himself has looked capable at times, scoring against the Clarets, but his Blues tally stands at three in 11 games, and he did not start against Arsenal in Broja’s absence. The spectre of the injured Christopher Nkunku (No 18) looms large, but assuming the French forward will be an out-and-out striker would be another mistake. Mauricio Pochettino picked Cole Palmer (No 20) in a false 9 role against Arsenal and it proved effective until heads got scrambled in the final 15 minutes. It seems playing without a recognised No 9 may be Chelsea’s best route to goal. DB
Chelsea v Brentford, Saturday 12.30pm
Can ‘agent of change’ Iraola turn it around?
Andoni Iraola needs a win. Bournemouth’s hierarchy have retained faith in the Basque coach, hired for the attacking ethos he instilled at Rayo Vallecano, despite crushing defeats by Everton and Wolves in recent weeks. With league games against Manchester City and Newcastle on the horizon after Wednesday’s Carabao Cup date with Liverpool, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that they could head into the next international break in the same position as they went into the last: without a win to their name. Bill Foley, the American owner who acquired Bournemouth last year, is expected to be in attendance as part of a long-scheduled visit. Foley’s last public words feel pertinent before the arrival of Vincent Kompany’s side, another team in desperate need of an uplift. “I was satisfied he would be an agent of change,” Foley said of Iraola. Ben Fisher
Bournemouth v Burnley, Saturday 3pm
Good omens for Everton after bleak week
A potentially season-defining week for Everton, with the passing of their longtime chairman, Bill Kenwright, and the Premier League’s reported recommendation to deduct 12 points from the Merseyside club if they are found guilty of breaking the league’s profitability and sustainability rules. On Sunday they visit West Ham, managed by their former coach David Moyes, a beacon of stability for the Toffees for so long. The Hammers have been strong at home, beating Chelsea and only dropping points to Manchester City and Newcastle. Being monstered 4-1 away at Aston Villa, and a potential European hangover after a trip to Olympiakos on Thursday, might be a slight concern for Moyes, who side have taken just one point in their two games following Europa League fixtures so far. Everton will also be heartened by the fact they have won more Premier League away games against West Ham (12) than against any other opponent. Morgan Ofori
West Ham v Everton, Sunday 1pm
Salah chases another record against Forest
Even the return of Divock Origi is unlikely to shift Mohamed Salah off centre stage at Anfield on Sunday. The Liverpool forward’s consistently phenomenal numbers defy anyone to take him for granted. No player has been involved in more Premier League goals in 2023 than the Egypt international, who has scored 19 and assisted 12. Should he score against Nottingham Forest, Salah will become only the third player to score in each of Liverpool’s opening five home league games of a season. The others are Harry Chambers in 1922 and John Aldridge in 1987. He could also score two or more goals in a third consecutive Premier League game for the first time after doubles against Brighton and Everton. Salah’s overall display in Saturday’s derby was modest yet he still proved the decisive figure. At 31 there are no signs of Salah’s numbers easing off – only further evidence of why Liverpool were adamant he would not be joining the exodus to play in Saudi Arabia this summer. Andy Hunter
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest, Sunday 2pm
Wolves picture pain for wounded Newcastle
Gary O’Neil talks about painting tactical pictures for his players during training sessions and has spoken about the belief that builds in his squad when they see those scenarios play out on a Saturday afternoon. Wolves will be prepared for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, another team who make things uncomfortable for opponents by pressing high and pushing players into tight spots. Wolves head into the game with plenty of momentum after a three-match unbeaten run, for which the catalyst was an impressive takedown of champions Manchester City. O’Neil and his staff, including the former Crystal Palace midfielder Shaun Derry and ex-Forest Green manager Ian Burchnall, will have a plan to prevent Howe’s side bouncing back from Wednesday’s Champions League defeat at home to Dortmund – Newcastle’s first since the beginning of September. BF
Wolves v Newcastle, Saturday 5.30pm
Are Fulham still a bogey team for Brighton?
It’s the Bobby Zamora derby this weekend as Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton side welcome Fulham. The west London club did the double over their opponents last season, coming away with a smash-and-grab victory at the Amex in February, courtesy of a Manor Solomon winner. Marco Silva, who extended his Fulham contract until 2026 this week, has won three Premier League games against the Seagulls, beating a different manager each time – Chris Hughton (with Everton), Graham Potter and De Zerbi. Brighton have not beaten Fulham in six Premier League meetings and will also be wary of Willian’s record. The Brazilian winger has been involved in four goals in his five Premier League starts against Brighton, with three of those coming in games at the Amex Stadium (one goal, two assists). MO
Brighton v Fulham, Sunday 2pm
Luton’s lower-league finds boost survival fight
Rob Edwards, the Luton manager, stressed that he was “not doing cartwheels” after salvaging a point at Nottingham Forest. That said, his side’s comeback from two goals down, at a stadium which has proved a fortress for Forest, should give the promoted side a leg-up in their quest for survival. Visiting Aston Villa, in rampant form at home, represents a step up in trip – but with Sheffield United, Bournemouth and Burnley floundering, Luton have reminded those around them that they remain hungry for the fight after a demoralising start to life back in the top division. It is no wonder, given some of their players’ backstories. Chiedozie Ogbene, who scored Luton’s first goal last weekend, was in League One with Rotherham 18 months ago. Elijah Adebayo, who got their stoppage-time equaliser, was in League Two with Walsall as recently as 2021. BF
Aston Villa v Luton, Sunday 2pm
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 9 | 12 | 23 |
| 2 | Man City | 9 | 12 | 21 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 9 | 10 | 21 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 9 | 11 | 20 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 9 | 10 | 19 |
| 6 | Newcastle | 9 | 15 | 16 |
| 7 | Brighton | 9 | 4 | 16 |
| 8 | Man Utd | 9 | -2 | 15 |
| 9 | West Ham | 9 | 0 | 14 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 9 | 4 | 12 |
| 11 | Crystal Palace | 9 | -4 | 12 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton | 9 | -4 | 11 |
| 13 | Fulham | 9 | -7 | 11 |
| 14 | Brentford | 9 | 2 | 10 |
| 15 | Nottm Forest | 9 | -2 | 10 |
| 16 | Everton | 9 | -5 | 7 |
| 17 | Luton | 9 | -9 | 5 |
| 18 | Burnley | 9 | -16 | 4 |
| 19 | AFC Bournemouth | 9 | -14 | 3 |
| 20 | Sheff Utd | 9 | -17 | 1 |
