Premier League: 10 things to look for this weekend

Will the city rely on possession?

A clear contrast in styles will be visible in a game that could have major ramifications for hopes for qualifying in the Champions League of Nottingham Forest and Manchester City. No team in the Premier League has on average less possession than 40.1% Forest this season and no team has an average balloon than Manchester City (60.4%). So, the fact that a 59 -point chasm between last season’s teams was completely eroded – Nuno Espírito Santo’s men are actually a better point than the champions after 27 games – suggests that possession is not the essential football that it was in the past. City was Routine at home at Forest in December in December, but beat Nuno’s team at City Ground is a much more severe challenge. Arsenal and Liverpool are among the parties that have failed to do so in recent months. Dominic stand

Brighton’s right -back enigma

The Tariq Lamptey suspension after its red card against Newcastle in the FA Cup means that Fabian Hürzeler must decide to replace it at the right back by Joël Veltman or Jack Hinshelwood when they confront Fulham on Saturday. The Dutchman confirmed this week that Brighton had triggered an extension of one year in his contract, but could be on the bench against the team of Marco Silva if Hürzeler chose to move Hinshelwood from his favorite position of the central midfielder. The 19 -year -old impressed in both roles this season, but gives Brighton a more attacker option at the right back. Veltman was linked to a return to Ajax in his homeland and said that he left his options open. “I have been here for five years and I still love it but you never know in football,” he said. Ed Aarons

Nketiah primed for the visit of Ipswich

“Never a groan, never complaining even if he probably deserves minutes,” said Marc Guéhi when he asked him questions about Eddie Nketiah after Crystal Palace’s victory over Millwall in the FA Cup last week. The former Arsenal striker left the bench to replace Jean-Philippe Mateta and was appointed player of the match after the victory of his sealed Palace head, after his first Premier League goal for the club against Aston Villa. With Mateta potentially confronted with a spell, Nketiah should be full of confidence if he has the opportunity to start a championship match for the seventh time this season while Palace aims a third consecutive victory to the Selhurst Park. EA

Endo and Elliott started

Arne Slot could not have wished a more pleasant match for this junction than a home match against Southampton before a huge week featuring the second stage of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain and the Carabao Cup final. This should be a routine victory against a team with an average of 0.33 points per game this season is an ideal opportunity to rest the members. Slot’s substitutes for Paris – Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo, Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones – all had a positive impact. The players they replaced – Mohamed Salah, Ryan Gravenberch, Diogo Jota and Luis Díaz – fought against the rhythm and the movement of the French champions. Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai in particular must recharge. It could be the time for Slot to reward Endo and Elliott with their first departures from the campaign league. Andy Hunter

Brentford and Villa were uniformly

The fact that this match is the 10th V 11th is an indictment of the growing force of the middle class of the Premier League. Villa, after their mid -week victory in Bruges, is fair just for the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Brentford, especially at home, is feared by all the teams in the division. The last time Villa went to the League, Christmas 2023, Ollie Watkins’ late head against his former team did the damage in a two red box match. The two teams are likely to be very modified. In the case of Brentford, injuries no longer serve the selection of Thomas Frank and, for Villa, Watkins no longer wears such a heavy burden, with Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio added to the mixture. Morgan Rogers has also become a key Villa attacker. Brentford and Excel villa on the counter and in pieces and this is where the game is likely to be won. John Brewin

Cunha’s ban could bite wolves

The loss of composure of Matheus Cunha during the FA Cup in Bournemouth last week opened the battle for relegation. Without a player of a talent far beyond what the lower three can boast, wolves can find themselves encircling the drain, in particular if the prohibition of Cunha is extended. Vítor Pereira had restored order to the Wolves, with his 3-4-3 training winning a huge championship victory in Bournemouth a fortnight ago; Ruben Amorim could take note. If David Moyes had not returned to Everton, it could have been a pointer with six points of relegation. Instead, the emphasis is on how Pereira replaces Cunha. Gonçalo Guedes, Rodrigo Gomes, Hwang Hee-Chan and Carlos Forbs are options, although Tommy Doyle may well be pushed further to support Jørgen Stand Larsen as a lonely attacker. After the visit of Everton, Southampton, West Ham and Ipswich will probably be the matches that Cunha is missing. Pereira hopes that the five -point gap from the hunting pack will be preserved. Jb

Leicester reflects on another change

Is Enzo Maresca about to force Leicester in another management switch? It has been four months since the man who left the King Power Stadium for Chelsea last summer sealed the fate of his replacement. Leicester dismissed Steve Cooper after losing at home against Chelsea de Maresca. Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Cooper’s successor, has had little impact since his appointment. Leicester was miserable when they lost 2-0 in West Ham last week and Van Nistelrooy is on thin ice before visiting Chelsea on Sunday. The Dutchman cannot say that he did not have time to prepare for this game. Chelsea, on the other hand, has a quick turnaround after visiting FC Copenhagen in the Europa conference league. Can Leicester take advantage of all weariness in the ranks of Maresca? This was the case where, during another trip to London, they retaliated with a goal to beat Tottenham, which lacked energy after the Europa League efforts three days earlier. The only problem, of course, is that Leicester has since lost five on the rebound. Jacob Steinberg

Cherries can avoid Solanke’s reunion

When Dominic Solanke signed a five -year contract in Specurs in summer after finishing a transfer of 55 million pounds Sterling in Bournemouth, he would not have planned his new languid club in 13th while his old side pressed a European place. The attacker’s recent absence due to a knee injury contributed to Tottenham’s difficulties, but cherries deserve great credit to adapt after his release. Bournemouth signed Evanilson using the Solanke Cash, although Justin Kluivert, Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo have impressed, scoring 26 goals between them so far this season. Solanke seemed ready for a meeting with his former employers this weekend, but was injured again in defeat against AZ on Thursday and could be denied the opportunity to prove a point against the team of Andoni Iraola. Db

United has lost their factor of fear

The darkest season to date in the Premier League years of Manchester United and a meeting with the club which was the main competitors during their peak. To say that the expectations of Mancunian are weak, would be to say slightly. If United hoped that Arsenal could be distracted by their assignment in the Champions League against PSV, a victory at 7-1 at first glance means that Mikel Arteta can refocus on the crumbs of hope that one can find in the race for the title. It was Arsenal, in December, who presented his first defeat to Ruben Amorim as a manager of United, jumping a victory via two goals. Has United has improved since then? The defeats under Amorim have become commonplace, even expected, and his team has become little better to defend the sets. Calvin Bassey scored for Fulham last week in the FA Cup after United did not completely read a repeated movement. For Arsenal, United once had a factor of fear but, like almost anyone in 2025, a visit to Old Trafford has few fears. Jb

Newcastle exposed to a crucial stage

Newcastle risks being taken by their lack of depth. They looked at the long long outings and have injury problems before visiting West Ham on Monday. The injury at the end of the Lewis Hall season leaves a hole on the left back, Sven Botman could be ready for a long absence after learning that he needed a knee operation, Alexander Isak had a hard time with a problem of the groin and Anthony Gordon served a ban on three games after his brain -free red card in the defeat of the FA Cup by Brighton. The problems go up for Eddie Howe and he needs his squad players to compete against West Ham. However, there are concerns about the quality of Newcastle, which could cost them both in the final of the Carabao cup next weekend and with their effort for qualification in the Champions League. Js