After getting the best part of a fortnight off for the international break, all 20 Premier League teams are back in action this weekend.
There are plenty of entertaining match-ups, but few look more enticing than the Saturday lunchtime clash between Manchester City and Liverpool. Whoever wins at the Etihad Stadium will claim top spot, though Arsenal could yet finish the weekend in first after their Saturday evening trip to Brentford.
Other matches include a relegation scrap between Sheffield United and Bournemouth, as well as Everton’s first Premier League game since they were handed a 10-point deduction. Mirror Football has picked out one thing to look out for from each of the 10 fixtures, with a number of sub-plots doing the rounds.
1. Haaland v Nunez
Manchester City’s and Liverpool’s strikers fared rather differently during the international break. While City hotshot Erling Haaland picked up an injury on Norway duty, Darwin Nunez helped Uruguay down Argentina and Bolivia to move second in South America’s World Cup qualifying standings.
Nunez received plaudits from none other than ex-Liverpool frontman Luis Suarez during the break. While Jurgen Klopp has sometimes started his international stars from the bench after long flights back from South America, the Uruguayan will certainly have momentum.
Haaland missed Norway’s game against Scotland, but City will hope he’s available on Saturday. Not that they needed him last season, though, claiming a 4-1 win in the corresponding fixture.
2. Blades’ momentum question
The international break didn’t come at the best of times for Sheffield United, who had finally started to kick into gear. Paul Heckingbottom’s team claimed a first win of the season against Wolves in early November and followed it up with a point at Brighton, climbing off the foot of the table as a result.
They would have surely loved to host fellow strugglers Bournemouth straight off the back of those results, but have instead been forced to wait a fortnight. Their opponents remain depleted, though, and the Blades will hope now is still a good time to take on Andoni Iraola’s men.
The visitors picked up a valuable win over a similarly injury-hit Newcastle side last time out, but the likes of Tyler Adams and Alex Scott are still missing through injury. If there’s a victor at Bramall Lane on Saturday, though, it could help shape the relegation battle for the rest of the season.
3. Forest to fall back on home form
Nottingham Forest’s home and away form this season couldn’t be more different. They remain unbeaten at the City Ground, but have just four points from seven away games despite scoring twice in trips to Manchester United and West Ham.
Steve Cooper’s men now face back-to-back home matches against Brighton and Everton. Maximum points could be the difference between looking up the table and peering nervously over their shoulders throughout the festive period.
Visitors Brighton have slumped after a strong start, winning none of their last six in the league. Roberto De Zerbi’s side may also have one eye on their Thursday night trip to Athens, where three points would send them into the Europa League knockout stages, and Forest will want to take advantage if their opponents are distracted.
4. West Ham’s big Mubama call
West Ham were dealt a fresh blow during the international break, with injury keeping Jarrod Bowen out of England’s game in North Macedonia. With Michail Antonio already missing, David Moyes could well put his faith in young talent Divin Mubama.
A star of the 2023 FA Youth Cup winning side, Mubama scored his first senior goal in last season’s Europa Conference League but is waiting for his first league minutes this term. The teenager has yet to commit to a contract extension, with a lack of minutes reportedly a factor, but a start against Burnley could help win him over.
The two other men in line to potentially feature at Turf Moor have their own reasons to want minutes. Former Burnley duo Danny Ings and Maxwel Cornet have both struggled in East London for various reasons, and will be keen to show Moyes they can be trusted.
5. Olise’s welcome return
Crystal Palace were able to give Michael Olise his first minutes of the season last time out against Everton. The playmaker was injured on France Under-21 duty over the summer, and his creative output has been missed by Roy Hodgson’s side.
Olise committed his future to the Eagles over the summer, despite interest from Chelsea, but fans have been forced to wait patiently to see him in action. Hodgson may decide he needs a little longer before throwing him straight in, but a game against Luton is one the London side will want to win.
Rob Edwards’ hosts came within minutes of a first home Premier League win when Liverpool came to Kenilworth Road at the start of the month. Both teams will fancy their chances, and moments of quality – which Olise is more than capable of providing – could make the difference.
6. Gordon can show Chelsea what they missed
Anthony Gordon, like Michael Olise, is one of the young talents in the rare position of having not moved to Chelsea despite interest from the Blues. The 22-year-old was targeted by the London side when still on Everton’s books, but ultimately stayed on Merseyside before eventually moving to Newcastle in January 2023.
Gordon has already impressed against his would-be suitors, setting up Everton’s leveller in a draw at Stamford Bridge in December 2021 and scoring his first Newcastle goal at the same stadium in May. He has added four more this term, and could have a big role to play once more with Callum Wilson among several stars out injured.
After missing out on Gordon, Chelsea made a number of additions including that of Mykhailo Mudryk. The Ukrainian has blown hot and cold under Mauricio Pochettino, but may well have fire in his belly after cruelly being denied a penalty when his national side took on Italy on Monday.
7. Ramsdale in the firing line
Since losing his place in the Arsenal starting line-up, Aaron Ramsdale has been linked with a number of potential suitors. The England international clearly remains in demand, but a lack of club minutes is leaving his chances of representing England at Euro 2024 in jeopardy.
While there’s no sign of a permanent recall under Mikel Arteta, all the keeper can do is impress when called upon. One of those opportunities will arrive this weekend, with David Raya unable to face parent club Brentford.
Defeat at Liverpool last time out was just the second time this season where Brentford have failed to score in the league. Ramsdale may well have a busy evening against the Bees, and he’ll want to be on top form throughout.
8. Spurs face bouncebackability question
When Spurs took an early lead at Wolves in their last game, it looked like the perfect response to their nightmare against Chelsea. Unfortunately for Ange Postecoglou’s team, though, they retreated into their shell and saw their opponents snatch victory with two stoppage-time goals.
If you’d asked the London side to cherry-pick their next opponents, it’s unlikely they’d have chosen Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s team did the double over them last season and sit just a point behind them in this year’s table.
Spurs are still without key men, including James Maddison and Micky van de Ven. If they’re able to stop the rot in these circumstances, they will still be able to very much consider themselves top four contenders.
9. Ten Hag watching from afar
Manchester United will take on Everton this weekend without Erik ten Hag on the touchline. The manager will serve a one-game ban, having been cautioned during the victory over Luton before the international break.
“To a certain point, of course you have to accept decisions and I should do as well,” Ten Hag said. “We have a very competent coaching staff and they will take over. Of course to a certain point I can be involved but I can say my coaching staff is very competent.”
While United’s boss won’t be able to watch from close up, his opposite number will surely be fired up for the game. Sean Dyche has a chance to instil a siege mentality after his team’s points deduction, beginning this weekend.
10. Lemina returning in good spirits
Back in the 2020-21 season, Mario Lemina’s winner at Liverpool looked to have set Fulham up for a real crack at survival. It ultimately wasn’t to be, though, with a run of just two points from the last 10 games sending them down and ensuring the loanee wouldn’t be staying in West London.
After 18 months in France, the Gabon international returned to the Premier League with Wolves in January. He was more successful in their battle against the drop under Julen Lopetegui, and has found a scoring touch under Gary O’Neil with his two in 11 games enough to match his best ever return in a single season.
The second of those goals was the winner against Spurs in the last game before the break. Lemina won’t need much motivation against his former club, with O’Neil’s men potentially able to climb into the top half for the first time this season with a win.
