Key talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend | OneFootball

Ahead of the Premier League weekend, we look at some of the division’s key talking points, featuring Nottingham Forest, Omar Marmoush and Harry Maguire.

Will Marmoush enjoy home comforts again?

Manchester City spent big to sign Omar Marmoush in January, as the Citizens sought to inject life into a stuttering side. The Egyptian’s explosive start to the season prompted a €70m move with Marmoush brought in to ease the reliance on Erling Haaland.

The latter’s ankle injury has instead seen Marmoush carry the load, scoring six times in 12 league appearances. All of Marmoush’s goals have come at home, with his settling-in period certainly easier at the Etihad. City welcome Wolves on Friday night, in a tough test against a side transformed under Vitor Pereira. Marmoush could be crucial in ensuring City’s quest for Champions League football continues without hiccup.

Aston Villa have no margin for error

Another side chasing a place in the Champions League is Aston Villa, though Unai Emery’s side has work to do. Defeat at Manchester City last time out leaves The Villans seventh and three points outside the top five with four games to go.

That loss was followed by a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals, as Villa produced a poor performance on the big stage. It’s been a memorable campaign at Villa Park, with an impressive run in the Champions League, but there will be little to show for it if a return to that competition is not secured.

Villa do not face any of the sides above them in the run-in and will be reliant on results elsewhere. Even maximum points may not be enough.

Maguire renaissance a feel-good tale

Harry Maguire has had a turbulent time at Manchester United. A world-record price tag placed pressure on Maguire from the start and it’s been an up-and-down spell at Old Trafford. The centre-back has survived severe scrutiny, off-the-pitch controversy, and his removal as club captain to come out of the other side with credit.

Now, he’s been a driving force in the club’s Europa League run as the Red Devils look to salvage their season. A dramatic 121st-minute winner against Lyon sealed progress in the previous round before Maguire created the opening goal against Athletic Bilbao in midweek in unusual fashion.

Some fleet-footed work on the wing was not the sort of play we’ve become accustomed to with Maguire and led to some tongue-in-cheek ‘Harrydinho’ praise on social media.

Maguire is in a good spell and Ruben Amorim’s back three system suits his qualities. After suffering from scapegoat status previously, it’s a renaissance tale we can get behind.

Race for eighth offers intrigue

The headline narrative of the run-in is the Champions League chase, but another European race is heating up nicely. Eighth place could ensure a place in Europe next season and it’s a congested pack battling for the spot.

Eighth will secure European football if Chelsea win the Europa Conference League and finish in a Europa League place in the Premier League, and Manchester City win the FA Cup and finish inside the Premier League’s top six. Newcastle (who currently have a Europa Conference League spot after their Carabao Cup success) would also need to end the campaign in the top six.

With England set for an additional co-efficient place in the Champions League, the European allocation would be as follows:

Champions League: 1st-5th Europa League: Chelsea (6th and Conference League winners) and 7th Conference League: 8th

There are currently just two points between 8th-placed Fulham and Brentford in 11th. The race is on.

Potter has chance to ignite West Ham tenure

Graham Potter’s time with West Ham needs a spark. It’s been a miserable season at the London Stadium and Potter’s appointment in January has done little to turn things around. Potter has won just 20% of his games in charge and West Ham are stuck in 17th in the table.

This weekend, West Ham host Tottenham Hotspur in a London grudge match. Spurs have also endured a season of struggle but are on the verge of a place in the Europa League final. With their fierce rivals having one eye on that semi-final second leg next week, West Ham will want to take advantage. A derby win could be just what the doctor ordered for an under-pressure Potter.

Forgotten faces set for Liverpool chance

Liverpool’s title celebrations are in full swing and Arne Slot has said he will hand a breather to his key men across the run-in. Slot has been reluctant to rotate during the campaign, sticking with the tried and tested as the Reds romped to a record-equalling 20th title.

With four dead rubbers to conclude the campaign, chances will be handed to those who have failed to feature prominently. Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa are yet to start a Premier League game this season, while Jarell Quansah, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez might just be fighting for their Liverpool futures.

Flagging Forest face fight to save Champions League dream

Nottingham Forest’s defeat to Brentford was a dagger to the club’s chances of Champions League qualification.

Beaten on home soil, Forest have now lost four of their last five in all competitions and appear to be running out of steam. Their dream of a place in the Champions League is far from over, but Nuno Espirito Santo needs to coax one last push from his side.

A tricky trip to a buoyant Crystal Palace is far from the ideal fixture this weekend, before crunch clashes with Leicester (H), West Ham (A) and Chelsea (H). Outside the top five on goal difference, a season-defining run starts now.

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