1) Submit-Bonfire Evening fireworks at Bridge
An already-spicy encounter between Chelsea and Arsenal has been lent added piquancy by a promo clip recorded for BT Sport by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. “It’s nothing private, Arsenal,” says the Chelsea striker, who’s presumably keen to place one over on a membership whose supervisor relieved him of the captaincy earlier than delivery him off to Barcelona. “I’m again, I’m prepared and I’m blue.” The striker’s innocent goading may carry extra weight if he was at present firing on all cylinders however his return for Chelsea of three objectives in 11 appearances – two of them off the bench – is hardly prolific. Aubameyang shall be determined so as to add to this tally on Sunday and may he accomplish that, any celebration (or the shortage thereof) shall be scrutinised to inside an inch of its life. On the day after Bonfire Evening, right here’s hoping for extra fireworks at Stamford Bridge. Barry Glendenning
2) Late audition for England hopefuls
English gamers on the periphery of Gareth Southgate’s World Cup plans have been instrumental within the gradual enchancment of each Everton and Leicester however, on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season earlier than its disgraceful interruption, is it too late for an audition at Goodison Park? James Maddison, James Tarkowski and Dominic Calvert-Lewin shall be amongst these desperately hoping not. Tarkowski has impressed in a new-look defensive partnership with Conor Coady that has underpinned Everton’s larger resilience and character this season. Whereas Coady appears a secure guess for Qatar, Tarkowski has not had a look-in at worldwide stage since 2018, when he was on stand-by for the final World Cup earlier than present process a hernia operation. Maddison’s claims have additionally been ignored by the England supervisor regardless of producing six Premier League objectives and two assists in a tough season for Leicester. It’s virtually three years since he received his solely senior cap as a second-half substitute towards Montenegro. He should hope Southgate doesn’t play it completely secure once more. Andy Hunter
3) Time Gil acquired a go
Since signing for Spurs the summer time earlier than final, Bryan Gil has but to start out a recreation in both the league or Champions League. There’s a robust likelihood he hasn’t earned the precise to – Antonio Conte sees him in coaching daily, and the possibilities are that he is aware of barely extra about soccer than these of us studying and writing these phrases. However although Conte’s desire is for brutal automatons, Gil’s cameo towards Sporting final week confirmed his willowy unpredictability is one thing that Spurs lack and, given the unlucky accidents suffered by Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison, Conte has a choice to make. The conservative choice could be to flank Harry Kane with Ivan Perisic and Lucas Moura, but when Perisic performs wing-back with Gil in entrance of him on the wing, this might give Spurs an additional attacker and in addition enable the 2 of them to gang up on and exploit the area behind Trent Alexander-Arnold. Daniel Harris
4) Is the tip nigh for Hasenhüttl?
Newcastle followers taking up the 644-mile spherical journey to St Mary’s will virtually actually make the primary half of the journey within the highest of spirits and may be forgiven for pondering the lengthy trek residence shall be equally cheery. In beating Chelsea on the finish of August, Southampton instructed they could have turned a nook, however Ralph Hasenhüttl’s facet have received one and misplaced 5 of their subsequent eight matches. Regardless of the membership hierarchy’s obvious reluctance to sack him, the Austrian supervisor is unquestionably on borrowed time with an extended mid-season hiatus looming. Southampton then journey to Liverpool for his or her last recreation earlier than the World Cup, a match their away type suggests they are going to virtually actually lose. Whatever the final result of the Carabao Cup tie towards Sheffield Wednesday subsequent Wednesday, defeat towards Newcastle might hasten the tip of Hasenhüttl’s curate’s egg of a reign on the south coast. BG
5) Álvarez able to make influence
Earlier within the week, Pep Guardiola stated that Erling Haaland may make Saturday’s Fulham recreation. However given his significance to Metropolis, if the decision to pick out him is marginal, it could make extra sense for him to overlook a house recreation his staff ought to win anyway, quite than danger aggravating an damage that’s virtually healed. This may be excellent news for Julián Álvarez, who’s made a gradual begin to his Manchester Metropolis profession, however confirmed towards Sevilla that he’s able to have an effect on video games. First, he slipped an attractive move inside a defender for Rico Lewis to attain, then completed fantastically when put in on objective himself and at last, scavenged possession excessive up the pitch earlier than taking part in in Riyad Mahrez to clinch victory. Confidence in footballers – particularly these not solely taking part in however dwelling in a brand new surroundings – will be fragile. So Guardiola ought to search to capitalise on Álvarez’s midweek buzz, by granting him one other begin this weekend. DH
6) Coutinho hoping for a recent begin underneath Emery
“I’ve not returned (to England) as a result of it’s the Premier League, it’s as a result of it’s the precise membership and the precise challenge.” So stated Unai Emery after his first two days on the job at Aston Villa, who might need additionally persuaded the Spaniard with a bumper four-and-a-half yr contract and the promise of January funds, with Villarreal’s Pau Torres already linked with a £40m transfer. After final week’s appointment, Emery solely began teaching on Wednesday owing to work allow points, however was seen orchestrating a excessive press in coaching at Bodymoor Heath. What does this imply for Philippe Coutinho? The Brazilian will not be a prolific employee off the ball. Would possibly he be supplied a deeper position as Villa chase their first residence win over Manchester United since 1995? Or will Emery go for a extra cellular beginning XI and go away Coutinho stranded on the bench, the place he has sat for the final 4 video games? Michael Butler
7) Summerville should match expertise with utility
The Leeds first-team squad, their households and membership workers celebrated final Saturday’s reassuring victory at Liverpool with a Halloween Celebration initially of the week. Each participant attended in fancy costume with Jesse Marsch adjudging Pascal Struijk’s outfit the winner. “Pascal was the perfect, he got here as a hippy,” stated the Leeds supervisor, whose job safety could be bolstered considerably with a win over Bournemouth. It will likely be intriguing to see if Crysencio Summerville, his younger winger, begins towards Gary O’Neil’s facet. After scoring the winner at Anfield, Summerville requested for permission to return to his native Netherlands to have fun his 21st birthday however, tellingly, Marsch refused. If Summerville’s utility doesn’t but fairly match his appreciable expertise, Illan Meslier has lengthy married assiduousness to high-calibre capability. Itcan be straightforward to neglect that the Leeds goalkeeper continues to be solely 22, however Marsch believes Meslier needs to be included within the France squad for the World Cup and it’s tough to disagree. Louise Taylor
8) Lingard has earned a benching
After the positivity of beating Liverpool, Forest had been introduced again right down to earthwith a five-goal thrashing at Arsenal on Sunday. A turning level was Jesse Lingard’s failure to attain at 1-0, after which Arsenal dominated. Lingard is, admittedly, not the one Forest participant to be underperforming however his efforts this season have been beneath the usual anticipated of somebody of his pedigree; he has failed to attain or help a objective and has struggled to affect the facet since his heralded summer time arrival. Brennan Johnson misplaced his place to Lingard, however has produced some promising cameos in latest weeks and it may very well be time for the academy graduate to be introduced again into the beginning lineup forward of his extra illustrious colleague. Lingard has not fitted into the formation at Forest and has acquired criticism for his lack of dedication with regards to profitable the ball again, so it’s time to put him again on the bench. Will Unwin
9) Brighton make one other eye-catching recruit
Wolves are famend for recruiting Portuguese gamers and it appears Brighton are starting to develop a pattern of their very own. Facundo Buonanotte will arrive in January and is the newest hailing from South America to maneuver to the south coast, becoming a member of Pervis Estupiñán, Julio Enciso, Moisés Caicedo, and compatriot Alexis Mac Allister among the many Brighton ranks. An attacking midfielder, Buonanotte will add craft to a ahead line that despatched Chelsea 4-1 within the final fixture. Brighton shall be heavy favourites for the journey to Wolves, who’ve been largely dreadful of late, and Roberto De Zerbi shall be grateful that the rudderless hosts haven’t but appointed Julen Lopetegui within the reverse dugout – talks with the previous Spain supervisor are slowly progressing after initially hitting the buffers. Within the interim, Brighton will look to capitalise and propel themselves again into the highest six. MB
10) Time Olise acquired amongst objectives
Patrick Vieira has known as on Michael Olise to attain extra – the winger is but to register this season after netting twice within the league final time round. He has two assists to his title however his supervisor needs to see him on the scoresheet himself. “Olise wants a little bit of time,” Vieira stated. “Generally we neglect how younger he’s. Arising from the Championship, he has to be taught and he has to be taught loads to be a Premier League participant.” With time, objectives will virtually actually come. He’s hindered by the very fact he has to place numerous vitality into defending and may typically be discovered monitoring full-backs all the way in which to his personal field. The longer he goes with out scoring, nevertheless, the larger the psychological influence on a participant who has proven moments of warning within the neighborhood of the opponent’s field as a result of he doesn’t have the unbounded confidence of a extra prolific participant, which may consequence him lacking the prospect to shoot. As soon as he does get one, although, extra will certainly come. WU
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