Fernandes shores up shaky Hammers
The absence of the wantaway Lucas Paquetá has given Mateus Fernandes a chance to take on more responsibility for West Ham. Paquetá, who is said to be nursing a minor back problem, was unavailable again for last week’s win at Spurs but Nuno Espírito Santo’s struggling side coped without the Flamengo target. They called on Fernandes to dictate the flow in midfield and the diligent Portuguese did not disappoint. Fernandes moved the ball cleverly, picked up an assist and looked like that rarest of things: a smart signing from West Ham. They will need the 21-year-old, who joined from Southampton for £38m last summer, to shine again with Paquetá looking unlikely to return against high-flying Sunderland at the London Stadium. Jacob Steinberg
West Ham v Sunderland, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
Frank still teetering on precipice
Tottenham have had a galvanising effect on domestic opposition. Bournemouth had not won since October, and triumphed 3-2 early this month. West Ham had not won in the league since November and were 2-1 victors in north London on Saturday. Enter Burnley, whose last Premier League victory came in October and who have held Manchester United and Liverpool so far in 2026. The “Dr Tottenham” meme has become hackneyed but Spurs’ ability to raise previously doomed opponents is beyond a joke. Tuesday’s victory over Borussia Dortmund was a fig leaf that followed a Sunday and Monday of speculation over Thomas Frank’s future. That Frank remains in charge speaks to a confused picture behind the scenes. At least, some fans have said with gritted teeth and no little irony, Daniel Levy was decisive when it came to sacking managers. Should Scott Parker triumph against his former club then the regime that ousted Levy will surely have its hand forced. John Brewin
Burnley v Tottenham, Saturday 3pm
Brighton want Baleba back at his best
Carlos Baleba did not find it easy during the first half of the season. The Brighton midfielder was targeted by Manchester United last summer and the noise seemed to unsettle him. Fabian Hürzeler felt Baleba was distracted. The 22-year-old was not the same player after excelling last season. Hauled off during home games against Brentford and West Ham, Baleba needed to reset when he went to represent Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon’s head coach, David Pagou, talked about working on Baleba’s mentality. Brighton will hope to reap the benefits. Baleba returned as a substitute during Monday’s draw with Bournemouth and is in contention to start Saturday’s trip to Fulham. JS
Fulham v Brighton, Saturday 3pm
Guéhi urgently needed by stunned City
Before last weekend’s trip to Manchester United, Saturday’s visit of Wolves appeared a formality for Manchester City. But a 2-0 loss at Old Trafford was followed by Tuesday’s shock Champions League defeat at Bodø/Glimt and, with Rob Edwards’ men unbeaten in their past five games, the outcome now feels uncertain. Pep Guardiola’s side should still win but they should have done, too, in Norway. Instead, City were schooled by Kjetil Knutsen’s men on a freezing night to forget in the Arctic Circle. Yet with Marc Guéhi in line to make his City debut and Antoine Semenyo, who is not in the Champions League squad, probably returning, if the bottom side do gain a positive result then Guardiola’s team will stay mired in a mini-crisis. Jamie Jackson
Manchester City v Wolves, Saturday 3pm
Reds’ Slot revival fails to convince
Last season, it took two goals from Mohamed Salah and real defensive rigour for Liverpool to triumph at Bournemouth. Andoni Iraola’s team had already beaten Arsenal and Manchester City at home. To say the picture has changed at both clubs since then is to put it mildly, not least in the status of Salah. His return at Marseille showed he had recovered a modicum of confidence while playing for Egypt at Afcon, though the scratchiness of his prior club form was also in evidence. Liverpool’s 13-game unbeaten run has not convinced many and last Sunday featured a club briefing that countered unfounded speculation Arne Slot was for the chop. Any change, should it come, is unlikely before the summer and Iraola would still be a leading contender. If his team’s slide has affected a previously sky-high reputation, the sale of players such as Semenyo offers plenty of mitigation. JB
Bournemouth v Liverpool, Saturday 5.30pm
Changed fortunes for Bees and Forest
While Nottingham Forest beat Brentford 3-1 on the opening day of the season, that feels like a long time ago now. Nuno Espírito Santo was still Forest manager, cheerfully embarking on a first European campaign since 1995-96. Keith Andrews, in his first season as a head coach, was widely tipped to lead his side to relegation after the departures of Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo. Both sides have gone on to confound expectations: Forest are in 17th, but hoping to extend their short unbeaten league run to three matches. Brentford, 10 places and 11 points above them, can dare to dream of European football despite defeat at Chelsea last time out. It will be little comfort to Forest fans to recall the sides’ last meeting given two of their goals were scored by the absent Chris Wood, who has not been able to add to his league tally owing largely to injury. Brentford’s scorer that day? Igor Thiago, who now has 17 goals in 23 appearances. Will Magee
Brentford v Nottingham Forest, Sunday 2pm
Sarr must inspire crumbling Palace
There’s been a meme doing the rounds on social media over the past few weeks with a picture of the Crystal Palace in all its pomp and another after the building was destroyed by a fire in 1936. “Crystal Palace FC before and after Ismaïla Sarr went to Afcon,” reads the caption. It’s a good summary of how dramatically things have changed at Selhurst Park since the Senegal forward made his last club appearance, against Manchester City on 14 December. Back then, Palace were fifth, Marc Guéhi was the captain and Oliver Glasner was apparently still undecided whether he would remain at the club next season. Sarr returned this week with his second Afcon winners’ medal after the dramatic final on Sunday to find his club down in 13th having failed to win any of their past 10 games in all competitions. Guéhi has already gone and Glasner will be on his way in the summer – if his uneasy truce with Steve Parish can last. At least the Austrian manager will be able to call on one of his most consistent performers when Chelsea arrive on Sunday, even if it may be asking too much for Sarr to turn things around by himself. Ed Aarons
Crystal Palace v Chelsea, Sunday 2pm
Newcastle and Villa eye big prize
Might Newcastle be distracted by Wednesday’s impending Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain? Will Aston Villa be fatigued following Thursday night’s Europa League visit to Fenerbahce? How should Eddie Howe compensate for the likely absence of his injured captain, Bruno Guimarães? Given Howe knows Unai Emery was Newcastle’s first choice to become their new manager after the club’s Saudi Arabia-led takeover in 2021, does he have an extra incentive to outwit his counterpart? Are Villa extra-motivated by last weekend’s surprise home defeat to Everton? So many questions surround this match but one thing is clear: the outcome will help determine qualification for next season’s Champions League and that represents a priority for both clubs. Villa are third with 43 points and Newcastle eighth on 33. But Emery knows his team’s advantage can be easily eroded, while Howe is encouraged that Newcastle remain only three points adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool. Louise Taylor
Newcastle v Aston Villa, Sunday 2pm
Arsenal attack sharp for United’s visit
A few weeks ago it seemed that Arsenal’s challenge for silverware would be severely undermined by their mounting injury list, even after spending more than £250m on new players in the summer. But with Gabriel Jesus – the two-goal hero against Inter on Tuesday night – and Kai Havertz back to provide competition up front for Viktor Gyökeres, suddenly Mikel Arteta has quality back-up options in every position. The only potential weakness is at the back, with Piero Hincapié and Riccardo Calafiori still sidelined, although Cristhian Mosquera’s excellent performance against Inter in his first game since injuring his ankle against Brentford at the start of December greatly encouraged Arteta. The Spain Under-21s defender wasn’t due to return for another two weeks and the Arsenal manager has praised the club’s medical department for nursing him back to health so quickly. “They’ve done incredibly well with him to work every single hour to give him the chance to play,” said Arteta. EA
Arsenal v Manchester United, Sunday 4.30pm
Calvert-Lewin can return with pride
It felt like the right time for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Everton to part company last summer, with both parties needing a fresh start, although the split was not that clearcut. Everton would have extended the striker’s contract but for wage demands they felt were excessive given his injury record. Leaving on a free transfer may cost Calvert-Lewin a decent reception when he faces his former club for the first time, but others will recognise his part in keeping Everton in the Premier League. The new stadium and a more front-footed approach from David Moyes’s team – when his most creative talents are available – may prompt Calvert-Lewin to ponder what might have been. But the same applies to Everton. Moyes remains desperate for a forward who can lead the line and finish to the level that a rejuvenated Calvert-Lewin has shown at Leeds. With nine Premier League goals in his first season with Daniel Farke’s side, the 28-year-old has scored more than Thierno Barry and Beto combined and can rightly return to Merseyside with his chest out. Andy Hunter
Everton v Leeds, Monday 8pm
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 22 | 26 | 50 |
| 2 | Man City | 22 | 24 | 43 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 22 | 8 | 43 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 22 | 4 | 36 |
| 5 | Man Utd | 22 | 6 | 35 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 22 | 12 | 34 |
| 7 | Brentford | 22 | 5 | 33 |
| 8 | Newcastle | 22 | 5 | 33 |
| 9 | Sunderland | 22 | 0 | 33 |
| 10 | Everton | 22 | -1 | 32 |
| 11 | Fulham | 22 | -1 | 31 |
| 12 | Brighton | 22 | 3 | 30 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 22 | -2 | 28 |
| 14 | Tottenham Hotspur | 22 | 2 | 27 |
| 15 | AFC Bournemouth | 22 | -6 | 27 |
| 16 | Leeds | 22 | -7 | 25 |
| 17 | Nottm Forest | 22 | -13 | 22 |
| 18 | West Ham | 22 | -20 | 17 |
| 19 | Burnley | 22 | -19 | 14 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton | 22 | -26 | 8 |
