Eight talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend | OneFootball

Eight talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend, featuring Manchester City’s midfield hole and managers under pressure.

Will Manchester City regret the summer window?

It’s perhaps hard to improve a four-in-a-row title-winning squad and Manchester City’s summer business reflects that. Savinho’s arrival and the return of Ilkay Gundogan was the only business of note for the Blues, who banked a league-leading £97.72m profit.

One area of concern that was not strengthened, long term at least, was number six and the club’s lack of a specialist alternative to Rodri is now a pressing matter after the Spaniard’s season-ending injury. Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan look the likeliest to deputise, though neither are naturally defensive-minded or, in the latter’s case, particularly tenacious.

In the opposition this weekend will be a player who was understood to be considered in the summer. Pep Guardiola’s side decided against activating the £100m release clause in Bruno Guimaraes’ contract at Newcastle, opting against a move for a player admired at the Etihad.

The Brazilian’s mix of combative edge and creativity, alongside excellence as a six or eight, would have made him an ideal option in Rodri’s absence.

Is Nwaneri ready for the Premier League?

Ethan Nwaneri’s name was catapulted into the consciousness when Mikel Arteta made the midfielder English football’s youngest-ever top-flight debutant in 2022. Then just 15, it was an example of the faith Arteta has a the Hale End graduate now on the cusp of breaking into the senior side.

Two years on from that record-breaking debut, Nwaneri started for the first time as Arsenal eased past Bolton in the Carabao Cup in midweek. The 17-year-old marked the occasion with two goals to underline his vast potential. After crashing the box to turn in from close range, he added a second with a low finish after Declan Rice won possession high up the pitch.

Nwaneri might be raw, but a return of 15 goals in 28 caps for England’s u-17 side shows his instincts in the final third. In the absence of Martin Odegaard, could he be handed more minutes to impress?

Lopetegui already under pressure?

West Ham fans were told to be careful what they wished for last summer. The tenure of David Moyes had given the Irons their greatest stability of the Premier League era, regular European involvement, and a first major trophy in 42 years. The flip side was the style of football, one that did little to excite and all too often brought groans from the London Stadium.

Julen Lopetegui was brought in in the summer with a résumé that includes spells with Spain, Real Madrid and Europa League success at Sevilla. Backed with substantial investment, optimism was high, but the season has started poorly with one win from five.

Jarrod Bowen admitted West Ham were ‘never in the game’ against Chelsea last weekend, a slight not often aimed at Moyes’ team. Lopetegui has problems he must fix quickly to avoid coming under intense early pressure.

Cucurella finally showing Brighton best

Things can change quickly in football. Marc Cucurella knows that better than most. A dream debut season at Brighton saw the Spaniard sweep up at the club’s end-of-season awards and earn a £62m move to Chelsea in 2022.

Two chaotic campaigns at Chelsea saw the left-back branded a flop, however, with Cucurella failing to find the form he showed on the south coast. An end-of-season revival saw Cucurella thrive when inverting into midfield for Mauricio Pochettino last season, earning a place in the Spain squad for Euro 2024. In the summer, he starred to win a major tournament with the national side and was named in the Team of the Tournament for his performances.

Cucurella has picked up where he left off and continues to provide flexibility to Chelsea’s plans under new head coach Enzo Maresca. Inverting and advancing up the pitch from his nominal starting berth at full-back, he is key to creating overloads for the Blues with intelligent positioning. It’s been a brilliant turnaround for the 26-year-old, who faces his former side this weekend now recognised as a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge.

Dyche needs to convince new owners

Sean Dyche has perhaps been the perfect manager to navigate choppy waters at Everton. His no-nonsense back-to-basics brand of football saw Everton survive last season, boasting the best defensive record outside the Premier League’s top three. Given the lack of investment available and off-field distractions, it was a fine achievement for Dyche.

This season, Everton have endured a nightmare start with just a point from their first five games. Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko’s absences have been felt and the impending return of that defensive duo should help his cause.

News of an agreement over a takeover will be greeted with caution given recent events, but prospective new owners and investment mean Dyche will have to prove himself again. Dan Friedkin has not been afraid of big decisions at Roma and will act if he feels the current man in charge is not right for the long-term project.

Under-rated defences meet at the City Ground

Nottingham Forest face Fulham this weekend in a clash between two teams going under the radar for their defensive performances this season. Only Liverpool (1) and Arsenal (3) have conceded fewer goals than Forest (4), who have seen summer signing Nikola Milenkovic form a solid understanding with Murillo in central defence.

Fulham, meanwhile, rank joint-fifth for the least goals conceded and fourth overall for Expected Goals Against (xGA), marginally ahead of Forest. Despite the loss of Tosin Adarabioyo in the summer window, the Cottagers have improved defensively with the return of Joachim Andersen a big reason for that. Two tough nuts to crack face-off this weekend.

Slot selection headache getting harder

Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo might just be two of the in-form left-wingers in England right now. The issue, of course, is the pair are pushing for one place in the Liverpool team.

Diaz has been in devastating form over the season’s opening weeks with the Colombian favoured in the Premier League. He has five goals, second only to Erling Haaland, after scoring twice in last weekend’s win over Bournemouth.

After experimentation in midfield and at centre-forward, Gakpo appears to have proved that the left wing is also his best role. After an excellent outing in the Champions League at AC Milan, he starred during the 5-1 rout of West Ham in the Carabao Cup in midweek. On target twice and dangerous all evening, it’s a welcome problem for Arne Slot to face.

Top four credentials already questioned at Old Trafford

Manchester United host Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday, with neither side satisfied with their start to the season. Sat 11th and 10th in the table respectively, a concerning gap could open up between the losers and the Champions League places at full-time.

Erik ten Hag’s side have laboured during draws with Crystal Palace and FC Twente, failing to show the clinical touch needed to convert chances. Spurs, meanwhile, have earned morale-boosting wins over Coventry, Brentford and Qarabag over the past week to ease the pressure on Ange Postecoglou.

It might be early in the season but this already looks like a must-not-lose for both teams.

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