Everton offer bogey-team test for Hürzeler
Just when Brighton supporters were hoping their side was building some momentum after a run of five games undefeated in all competitions, Saturday’s stoppage-time loss to Fulham arrived. Fabian Hürzeler’s side led at half-time, but their collapse was typical of performances on the road this season. Securing only two away wins – against Chelsea in September and Nottingham Forest in November – has undermined their challenge for Europe. Their next two games at the Amex, against Everton on Saturday and arch-rivals Crystal Palace next week, are an opportunity to make up some ground. Only seven points separate them from Chelsea in fifth place, but Brighton’s record against David Moyes’s side at home is terrible, having failed to beat them since 2019 when a late Lucas Digne own goal sealed the points for Graham Potter against an Everton team managed by Marco Silva. Ed Aarons
Brighton v Everton, Saturday 3pm (all times GMT)
Fire beast Farke gets ruthless with Perri
Name the most likeable Premier League manager? Leeds United’s Daniel Farke would surely feature very near the top of any poll. The German, who explains his personality is “95% coffee and cake on the sofa, five per cent fire beast”, represents something of a rarity in a Premier League world where managers often take themselves far too seriously. Not that Farke is afraid to be ruthless. Just ask his goalkeepers. While the once much vaunted Illan Meslier is now demoted to third choice, last summer’s £16m buy from Lyon, Lucas Perri, has recently been displaced by Karl Darlow. “With Lucas, there’s a chance for him now to press the reset button,” reflected Farke, as he prepared to host Arsenal at Elland Road on Saturday. “It’s a time for him to work hard in training, bring himself into the best possible shape and then there’s always the chance for a road back.” Whether the Brazilian keeper is reinstated, Farke knows collecting at least a point against Mikel Arteta’s stumbling title challengers would further assuage any lingering relegation fears. Louise Taylor
Leeds v Arsenal, Saturday 3pm
Toth follows Kerkez with help from Keane
It was not the only thing lost in the madness of Bournemouth’s 95th-minute winner against Liverpool last weekend, but Alex Toth’s late entrance went largely unnoticed. Ten minutes earlier, the 20-year-old came on for his debut after a £10.2m move from Hungarian champions Ferencvaros, who on Thursday visited Nottingham Forest in the Europa League. Toth was one of three Hungarians to feature at the Vitality Stadium, with Dominik Szoboszlai and former Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez lining up for Liverpool. Robbie Keane, the Ferencvaros head coach, admitted he was reduced to tears by Toth’s transfer after witnessing his progress first-hand. Toth was a teenager who seized his chance, registering 15 assists and four goals across 49 games and evolving into a key cog in Budapest. “He sent me a long message, thanking me that I changed his life,” Keane said. Ben Fisher
Wolves v Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm
Two up top may be new West Ham way
Nuno Espírito Santo’s switch to a 4-4-2 system has given West Ham a new lease of life. Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos are leading the line and have offered valuable workrate since joining earlier this month. Both forwards are waiting for their first Premier League goals but their work off the ball has been key to West Ham attacking with more energy. Castellanos and Pablo are occupying opposition centre-backs and that has created more space for Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville on the flanks. Summerville has three goals in his past three games in all competitions and Bowen was excellent during last week’s win over Sunderland. West Ham are still in big trouble but their wingers will give them hope of causing an upset when they visit Chelsea on Saturday evening. Jacob Steinberg
Chelsea v West Ham, Saturday 5.30pm
Woltemade or Wissa to deliver rare win?
Injury has deprived Newcastle fans of their first opportunity to wish Alexander Isak well at Anfield, or perhaps not. They will at least find consolation in the struggles of their former striker – before his leg fracture at Tottenham – and his new employers. No-one has truly benefited so far from last summer’s acrimonious transfer saga and Liverpool’s puzzling decision to spend a British-record £125m on Isak, having already acquired Hugo Ekitiké, the pick of their summer signings so far. Nick Woltemade may disagree: nine goals in 24 starts in all competitions is an encouraging return from the 23-year-old’s debut season in English football. That said, his goals have dried up – none in the past 10 games – and Yoane Wissa has been preferred up front in two of Newcastle’s past three matches. Eddie Howe’s team will go above Liverpool on goal difference with victory at Anfield, a ground where Newcastle have not won a league game since 1994. Given Arne Slot’s problems in defence there is opportunity for Woltemade and/or Wissa to demonstrate that Newcastle have moved on from Isak after all. Andy Hunter
Liverpool v Newcastle, Saturday 8pm
Douglas Luiz already vital for Villa
How will Unai Emery solve Aston Villa’s midfield conundrum? The obvious answer is Douglas Luiz, who this week returned on loan with an option to re-sign the Brazilian permanently, after Youri Tielemans joined John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara on the sidelines. Douglas Luiz’s last game for Nottingham Forest – last week’s defeat in Braga – ended in disappointment. His was a performance in keeping with a difficult few months, with the 27-year-old limited to just five league starts after joining on loan from Juventus. When Villa visited Brentford in August, Tielemans, McGinn and Kamara all started alongside Amadou Onana. Now the 18-year-old academy youngster George Hemmings, who made his debut last month, is seemingly next in line. Villa do not currently plan to add further in central midfield before Monday’s transfer deadline, so Emery needs the return of Douglas Luiz to work. BF
Aston Villa v Brentford, Sunday 2pm
Feisty Fulham bring bite to Old Trafford
This can be a feisty affair, as Fulham’s three red cards in 40 seconds – Marco Silva, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Willian – in the 2023 FA Cup quarter-final showed. On Sunday, any acrimony may be solely off-field when the 1958, a Manchester United fan group, holds its latest protest against the club ownership. On the grass, Michael Carrick is aiming for a third consecutive win of his second interim United tenure. Silva, still piloting the Cottagers, hopes for the latest positive result with Fulham suffering only one defeat in their past eight outings to sit just four points and three places below the hosts. Jamie Jackson
Manchester United v Fulham, Sunday 2pm
Sliding doors moment for Glasner
In a parallel universe, Oliver Glasner could be the Nottingham Forest head coach. In 2023, it was between the Austrian and Nuno Espírito Santo for who should replace Steve Cooper. In the end, the Portuguese got the nod and Glasner was left to wait for Palace a few months later. Towards the end of his first full season in charge, Nuno’s relationship with the Forest hierarchy soured and he was sent packing. It feels like Glasner is facing a similar fate, albeit further along the timeline. Even before announcing his impending summer exit, there was open hostility at Selhurst Park over recruitment. The sense is that the situation cannot carry on , especially after the exit of Marc Guéhi last week and no replacement yet through the door. If Palace lose at the City Ground, the two teams would be level on points and the Eagles facing an unexpected relegation battle, which may spell a premature end for Glasner. Will Unwin
Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace, Sunday 2pm
O’Reilly to strengthen City’s defensive shield
Against Galatasaray, Nico O’Reilly was given the job of protecting the Manchester City defence. Shifting from left-back to cover for the suspended Rodri, the England international performed well but did require plenty of mid-match coaching from Pep Guardiola. Considering how Rodri has struggled since returning from injury, it could be an idea to have him join forces with O’Reilly in defensive midfield, offering a more fearsome barrier for a shaky defence. It would bring a more balanced approach, even if it looks somewhat conservative by Guardiola’s standards. It could also offer a solution for when Rodri is unavailable in future, with Nico González a player who needs additional support amid the hectic pace of the Premier League. City have more than enough with flying full-backs and four attackers on the pitch, so a little pragmatism could go a long way in the business end of the season. WU
Tottenham v Manchester City, Sunday 4.30pm
Sunderland missing Xhaka’s hunger
An ankle injury forced Sunderland’s captain, Granit Xhaka to sit out his team’s 3-1 defeat at West Ham last Saturday and it was perhaps no coincidence that his midfield partner, Noah Sadiki said post-match the London side had been “hungrier”. The inspirational captain will again be sidelined – for only the second time in the league this season – as Regis Le Bris’s team defend their unbeaten Premier League home record against Burnley. Can Sunderland recapture their ferocious team spirit without Xhaka? The likely recalls of Habib Diarra, Chemsdine Talbi and Lutsharel Geertruida should help , but it would be a mistake to underestimate Burnley. Scott Parker’s side look doomed but have taken a point apiece from their last three league matches – against Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham. Moreover, the arrival of free-kick expert James Ward-Prowse, on loan from West Ham, should enhance the visitors’ set-piece routines on Monday night. LT
Sunderland v Burnley, Monday 8pm
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 23 | 25 | 50 |
| 2 | Man City | 23 | 26 | 46 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 23 | 10 | 46 |
| 4 | Man Utd | 23 | 7 | 38 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 23 | 14 | 37 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 23 | 3 | 36 |
| 7 | Fulham | 23 | 0 | 34 |
| 8 | Brentford | 23 | 3 | 33 |
| 9 | Newcastle | 23 | 3 | 33 |
| 10 | Everton | 23 | -1 | 33 |
| 11 | Sunderland | 23 | -2 | 33 |
| 12 | Brighton | 23 | 2 | 30 |
| 13 | AFC Bournemouth | 23 | -5 | 30 |
| 14 | Tottenham Hotspur | 23 | 2 | 28 |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 23 | -4 | 28 |
| 16 | Leeds | 23 | -7 | 26 |
| 17 | Nottm Forest | 23 | -11 | 25 |
| 18 | West Ham | 23 | -18 | 20 |
| 19 | Burnley | 23 | -19 | 15 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton | 23 | -28 | 8 |
