1) Leicester’s need for steel
No team has coughed up more points from winning positions than Leicester this season, who have squandered 19 from games in which they took the lead. While it required the early heroics of David de Gea to prevent them going ahead against Manchester United last Sunday, their players visibly wilted in the face of his resistance followed by Marcus Rashford’s opener, a goal James Maddison said “completely knocked the stuffing out of us”. With the league leaders, Arsenal, travelling to the King Power Stadium, Brendan Rodgers will hope his players can show the kind of resilience that was apparent in recent come-from-behind wins against Aston Villa and Tottenham, rather than the soft underbelly that has been exposed by so many. Barry Glendenning
Leicester v Arsenal, Saturday 3pm (all times GMT)
2) Spurs still consistently inconsistent
It may have been a season of steep ups and downs for Tottenham, but they have not experienced a nadir quite like the one Chelsea are going through. Having overcome the much-diminished threat posed by Moyesball last weekend, Spurs have benefited from Newcastle’s stalled form and, at least temporarily, chuntered ahead into fourth. Had their win against West Ham not followed a frustrating Champions League defeat to Milan and a total collapse at Leicester, it might have felt like a cause for cautious confidence. As it is, it appears almost impossible to predict which of Antonio Conte’s two teams – one capable of tying Manchester City in knots, the other fumbling with their shoelaces – will turn up this weekend. Even the latter could cause problems for Chelsea, mind, given they have two wins from their last 15 league games and arrive on the back of a chastening home defeat to bottom-placed Southampton. Will Magee
Tottenham v Chelsea, Sunday 1.30pm
3) Will Liverpool bounce back?
While back-to-back wins over Everton and Newcastle appeared to suggest Liverpool’s season was back on track, their shortcomings were brutally exposed by Real Madrid at Anfield on Tuesday. Mid-table but looking increasingly like they might be sucked into a relegation battle after seven top-flight games without a win, Crystal Palace go into their match against the wounded giants on the back of two successive draws and could do with a win to put some extra distance between them and those behind them. While Wilfried Zaha remains sidelined, in Michael Olise, Jordan Ayew and Eberechi Eze, Palace boast players canny enough to take advantage of defending Jürgen Klopp described as “slapstick” in midweek. Liverpool are unlikely to be as bad again at Selhurst Park, but may not need to be for Palace to secure a statement win. BG
Crystal Palace v Liverpool, Saturday 7.45pm
4) Gracia must hit ground running
As the new Leeds manager Javi Gracia assembles his backroom team, a key appointment has already been made. Mikel Antía, once a highly regarded assistant to Rafael Benítez at Newcastle, will be an integral part of the first team coaching setup, with the former centre-back expected to play a big part in helping choreograph set pieces. Although Antía has never coached under Gracia, he played alongside him at Real Sociedad and could prove a vital component of a staff, which will also include recent caretaker manager Michael Skubala, who has been promoted from his under-21 role. The task confronting Gracia and co would become slightly less complicated were they to beat a Southampton side currently sitting one place and one point beneath them at the bottom of the Premier League. Doing so would end a run of 10 games without a league win which, if it continues much longer, might send Leeds into the Championship. Louise Taylor
Leeds v Southampton, Saturday 3pm
5) Ouattara could lead merry dance
For all their dominance against Nottingham Forest last weekend, Manchester City’s profligacy in front of goal left them vulnerable to a late sucker punch which duly arrived when Chris Wood rounded off a superb team move with six minutes remaining. While lightning is unlikely to strike twice in as many Premier League games, Bournemouth will hope to keep their visitors at bay and try to capitalise on the fact that one of the world’s richest football clubs has found itself in the curious position of not actually having a natural left-back. With Bernardo Silva currently deputising in a role to which he looks most unaccustomed, it will be up to Bournemouth’s January signing Dango Ouattara to make hay down the right wing. Fast, nimble, two-footed and able to go around or inside his man, the Burkina Faso international could cause City all manner of problems. BG
Bournemouth v Manchester City, Saturday 5.30pm
6) Stolid tactics not helping Hammers
It was hard to know how West Ham hoped to score against Spurs last week. David Moyes picked a cautious team – five at the back, three defensive midfielders, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio the only attackers – and the result was predictable. Bereft of any positive intent, West Ham created nothing and had no response once they were behind. A different approach is required. West Ham have fallen into the bottom three before hosting Nottingham Forest and Moyes is under pressure. The Scot, who could be sacked if he loses, has to be more aggressive. Saïd Benrahma, Pablo Fornals and Manuel Lanzini, all of whom were on the bench against Spurs, could give West Ham more in attacking areas. Moyes also has Danny Ings, who could partner Antonio up front. Gianluca Scamacca is another alternative. West Ham have options. They need to make the most of them and excite their fans. Jacob Steinberg
West Ham v Nottingham Forest, Saturday 3pm
7) Everton need Maupay to start firing
It took a rare worldie from Séamus Coleman to haul Everton out of the relegation zone last weekend, a feat the Irishman cannot be relied upon to repeat anytime soon. With each passing game, it is becoming increasingly difficult to see who else might step up for a side that is joint-bottom of the Premier League goalscoring charts. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin sidelined indefinitely and Ellis Simms looking far from ready for the Premier League, the burden of responsibility is likely to be carried into this weekend’s game against Aston Villa by Neal Maupay. Exactly the kind of striker Everton would have tried to sign in their unseemly deadline day scramble if he wasn’t on their books already, the Frenchman works hard but is far from prolific. His sole goal for Everton in 18 appearances to date didn’t so much mark the end of one goal drought as prompt the beginning of another, even longer one. BG
Everton v Aston Villa, Saturday 3pm
8) Vinícius to step up for Fulham
Fulham have an Aleksandar Mitrovic problem. The striker has gone six games without a goal and is struggling with a hamstring problem. It kept him out of Fulham’s hard-earned win over Brighton and it is unclear if he will be back against Wolves on Friday night. But the good news for Marco Silva is that he has Carlos Vinícius in reserve. Vinícius started on the bench against Brighton but made an impact when he came on for Harry Wilson. Fulham had more of a focal point and it was Vinícius who created the winner, playing a deft pass through for Manor Solomon to score. Perhaps they can cope without Mitrovic. Vinícius scored the winner against Chelsea last month and Fulham, who are mounting an unlikely push for Europe, could turn to him again when they host Wolves. JS
Fulham v Wolves, Friday 8pm
9) Burn tunes up for Toon final
Dan Burn has revealed Newcastle will be dressing down for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final date with Manchester United by sticking to tracksuits rather than specially tailored formal Wembley suits. “We opted against suits, in the end,” the defender says. “We thought it would be better to keep it normal and not have to think about having to get measured up and do all that sort of stuff. I just don’t think you need that sort of added distraction and pressure. We aren’t going for a day out; we’re going to win.” The “no suits” decision was made by Newcastle’s players’ leadership committee of Burn, Jamaal Lascelles, Matt Ritchie, Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier. “Eddie Howe was fine with it,” says Burn. “He gave us the freedom to decide.” The defender has come full circle since being released by Newcastle’s academy at the age of 11. After leaving school, Burn worked for Asda, collecting trolleys while playing semi-professionally for Blyth Spartans. Moves to Darlington, Fulham, Wigan and Brighton followed for the Northumberland-born striker-turned-stopper, who grew up idolising Alan Shearer. “I never, ever though I’d be in this position,” he says. “I thought my chances of playing for Newcastle were done. I feel very lucky” LT
Manchester United v Newcastle, Sunday 4.30pm
10) More than silverware at stake
Erik ten Hag will be conscious of how potent a first trophy could be at the first time of asking in his nascent Manchester United tenure. Beat Newcastle in Sunday’s final and he is the man who ends the six-year trophy drought only eight months into the job. Whoever the owner is come the summer would find it difficult to refuse anyone the Dutchman identified as required to further elevate the team. Since United claimed the Europa League in 2017, two finals have been lost – the following season’s FA Cup showpiece and the 2021 edition of the second-tier continental club competition. Ten Hag will not wish to join José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær on that roll-call of disappointments but, if he does, there is already enough evidence the 52-year-old can do what neither predecessor managed: recover. Jamie Jackson
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 23 | 28 | 54 |
| 2 | Man City | 24 | 36 | 52 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 24 | 13 | 49 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 24 | 9 | 42 |
| 5 | Newcastle | 23 | 20 | 41 |
| 6 | Fulham | 24 | 5 | 38 |
| 7 | Brighton | 22 | 10 | 35 |
| 8 | Liverpool | 22 | 10 | 35 |
| 9 | Brentford | 23 | 7 | 35 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 23 | 0 | 31 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 23 | -10 | 28 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 23 | -10 | 26 |
| 13 | Nottm Forest | 23 | -20 | 25 |
| 14 | Leicester | 23 | -5 | 24 |
| 15 | Wolverhampton | 23 | -15 | 23 |
| 16 | Everton | 23 | -13 | 21 |
| 17 | AFC Bournemouth | 23 | -23 | 21 |
| 18 | West Ham | 23 | -10 | 20 |
| 19 | Leeds | 23 | -11 | 19 |
| 20 | Southampton | 23 | -21 | 18 |
