1
Another learning curve for Luton
For all the Ange-vibe feelgood factor coursing through Tottenham, Postecoglou’s side have been snatching their victories rather than romping to them – the wins over Sheffield United and Liverpool required dramatic late goals and VAR furore, respectively. Ominously for Luton, though, the one time Spurs have properly hammered someone this season was a 5-2 away win against another newly-promoted side, Burnley, to whom the Hatters lost, dispiritingly, on Tuesday. That defeat – coming on the back of the encouraging and deserved win at Everton – taught Luton a lesson in sharpening up in both boxes, which they will need to heed at Kenilworth Road. They may be encouraged to go as direct as they did against Burnley given how Spurs toiled against Sheffield United before that late turnaround, but Rob Edwards is canny enough to switch things around within games. He’ll need to be here. Tom Davies
- Luton v Tottenham, Saturday 12.30pm (all times BST)
Alfie Doughty takes a long throw for Luton against Burnley in midweek. Photograph: Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images
2
Rashford and Reds stuck in a rut
Should Erik ten Hag drop Marcus Rashford? Last season’s top scorer, with 30, for Manchester United is on a solitary goal 10 games into a season that has been the definition of nightmarish so far. Rashford seems to be in the same unwanted zone in which he got stuck two seasons ago, when the chat was that the academy-reared forward might leave his boyhood club so listless was he. Whatever Ten Hag decides has to work: he desperately needs a victory over Brentford, having reached the juncture that seems to come to all post-Sir Alex Ferguson managers where every move is viewed through an unforgiving prism. Really, a fully firing Rashford should be on the field to help Ten Hag and the team turn their fortunes around. The problem is the 25-year-old seems lost. Jamie Jackson
- Manchester United v Brentford, Saturday 3pm
3
Dyche under pressure to end home woes
Sean Dyche’s recollections of the corresponding fixture last season, when Everton saved their Premier League skins with a 1-0 win over Bournemouth on the final day, combine “pleasure and pain”. There has been only the latter at Goodison Park this term and the question of whether Dyche can inject the former into Everton’s home form is mounting after his team’s clueless response to falling behind to Luton last week. The Everton manager has taken to stressing positive xG stats, which he insisted this week are the best at the club in eight seasons, yet the most revealing stat is their worst start to a home league campaign for 65 years. Defeats to Fulham, Wolves and Luton have been characterised by weak finishing and defending. Against a Bournemouth side that have conceded 15 Premier League goals and are without an away league win, the pressure is on Dyche to deliver a solution. Andy Hunter
- Everton vBournemouth, Saturday 3pm
The last outing at Goodison was another damp squib for Everton. Photograph: Mark Kerton/Shutterstock
4
Can Iwobi’s energy rouse Fulham?
Fulham were a massive disappointment in defeat against Chelsea. “We were too passive,” Marco Silva said of his side’s performance during the first half, though Fulham’s manager could at least take some positives from an improved effort after the break. Substitutions made a difference, with Alex Iwobi’s cameo a notable plus point. Iwobi, who joined from Everton at the end of the transfer window, is still finding his feet after moving to Craven Cottage. While he scored in last week’s Carabao Cup win over Norwich, the midfielder is yet to start in the league. But Iwobi was energetic after coming on against Chelsea and his dynamism could come in handy against Sheffield United. It could be time for Silva to start the former Arsenal player. Jacob Steinberg
- Fulham vSheffield United, Saturday 3pm
5
Chelsea and Burnley chase consistency
The last time Chelsea strung three wins together was in March when the soon-to-be relegated Leeds and Leicester were beaten in the Premier League along with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. One of the biggest-spending teams on the planet have not repeated the feat or recorded back-to-back league wins since, but the performance at Fulham, and of Mauricio Pochettino’s midfield in particular, bodes well for a difficult test at improving Burnley. Conor Gallagher admitted the Chelsea manager gave him more freedom alongside Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo at Craven Cottage in the search for desperately needed improvement from a young team. The result was encouraging but needs to be the starting point for a consistent run of form, with Chelsea already eight points adrift of the top four. Vincent Kompany’s side had their own liberation on Tuesday with a first league win of the season, and will look to build momentum at Turf Moor. AH
- Burnley vChelsea, Saturday 3pm
6
A test for Hodgson’s depleted attack
The mood at Crystal Palace this season had been a little flat before victory at Manchester United last Saturday. But no sooner were spirits lifted than they were dampened by news of a hamstring injury to Eberechi Eze, who, before his late substitution at Old Trafford, had played every minute of every game this term. The playmaker is expected to be out for up to six weeks, which, combined with the absence of the injured Michael Olise, leaves Roy Hodgson’s attack looking threadbare. A side that have scored only seven goals this season will need to find incision from elsewhere for the visit of a beatable Nottingham Forest. Odsonne Édouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta will need to step up in attack and the industrious Jeffrey Schlupp might be thrown further forward into a more creative role. This will be a useful gauge of Palace’s strength in depth. TD
- Crystal Palace vNottingham Forest, Saturday 5.30pm
7
A chance for Klopp to outwit De Zerbi?
Brighton have beaten Liverpool only seven times in 38 meetings stretching back to 1908, and three of those have been in the FA Cup. However, the last two of those wins – one in the league, one in the Cup – have come in the past year under Roberto De Zerbi, who is yet to be outwitted by Jürgen Klopp (the sides also drew 3-3 last season). All of which adds intrigue to Sunday’s meeting between two sides coming off the back of Thursday night Europa League activity. Can Klopp’s re-geared side exploit any post-Marseille lethargy in Brighton, whose recent league displays have been decidedly below-par? This might be as good a chance as any for Liverpool to win well against De Zerbi’s side and take advantage of the fact that at least one of Arsenal and Manchester City will drop points. How they handle the unforgiving Thursday-Sunday treadmill that comes with Europa League involvement will tell us much about the title credentials of Klopp’s team. TD
- Brighton vLiverpool, Sunday 2pm
8
Wolves’ young pretenders in focus
In turning to Gary O’Neil two months ago Wolves decided to explore a different path. The 40-year-old became the owner Fosun’s first British managerial appointment and also represented a younger model compared to Julen Lopetegui. But Wolves also sought to change the dynamic of the squad, with Matt Doherty the only player over the age of 25 to sign this summer. The midfield was revamped, with Boubacar Traoré, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Tommy Doyle replacing Rúben Neves, João Moutinho and Matheus Nunes. The 22-year-old João Gomes, a January arrival from Flamengo, has been at the club a little longer and another all-action display will be needed if Wolves are to beat Aston Villa. “Players who come to Wolves on their way down are ones we have had limited success with,” the club’s sporting director, Matt Hobbs, said this week. Ben Fisher
- Wolves v Aston Villa, Sunday 2pm
Jeff Shi, Wolves executive chairman, looks on during the midweek Premier League 2 match between Wolves and Leeds United in Kidderminster. Photograph: Cameron Smith/WWFC/Wolves/Getty Images
9
Álvarez key to West Ham’s improvement
Edson Álvarez’s impressive performances since joining West Ham have helped to soften the blow of losing Declan Rice to Arsenal. Convincing Ajax to sell the Mexico midfielder for £35m is looking like smart business. Álvarez has quickly adjusted to the pace of English football, providing defensive steel and calmness in possession. Tactically aware, he has displayed his intelligence by occasionally dropping back to become a third centre-back. It was a sign of the 25-year-old’s importance to his new side when, exhausted after flying back from international duty, he was forced off with cramp against Manchester City last month and West Ham soon went 2-1 down. However, it has not all been perfect. Álvarez is already on four bookings and will serve a one-match ban if he receives another yellow card against Newcastle on Sunday. West Ham need Álvarez to take more care when he goes to ground. Or to make the fouls less obvious. JS
- West Ham v Newcastle, Sunday 2pm
10
Saliba has point to prove against City
When Arsenal picked over the rubble of last season’s title challenge they could cite injury to William Saliba as one of the major reasons for their stutter. They shipped four goals without him at Manchester City in April and were beaten soundly; had the outcome been reversed they might well have gone all the way. “Of course I could have helped my team to maybe win the Premier League but we [will] never know,” Saliba said this week. “It was really painful.” We will find out more about his chances of helping them go one better this time when City visit the Emirates. Arsenal will fancy their chances if Bukayo Saka is fit but will also believe that, with Saliba in imperious form so far, they can keep Erling Haaland quiet this time around and finally earn the league victory over City – almost eight years overdue – that could change everything. Nick Ames
- Arsenal vManchester City, Sunday 4.30pm
