Premier League: Eight speaking factors forward of the weekend

on

Anthony Gordon celebrates a Premier League goal for Newcastle.

As soon as once more we preview the Premier League motion and focus on a number of the division’s main speaking factors, that includes Arsenal’s simmering rivalry with Newcastle, Oliver Glasner, and the important thing to Nottingham Forest’s survival hopes.


Awoniyi key to Forest’s survival hopes


Nottingham Forest stay uncomfortably near the drop zone regardless of beating West Ham final weekend, with simply 4 factors separating Nuno Espirito Santo’s facet from the underside three. With the specter of punishment for breaching Revenue and Sustainability Guidelines looming, Forest badly want a run of outcomes to place some respiratory room between them and the relegation locations.


A visit to face Midlands rivals Aston Villa is hardly the kind of fixture to relish, with The Villans boasting a high-quality dwelling report and chasing Champions League qualification.


Nonetheless, the return of Taiwo Awoniyi gives hope for Forest and the Nigerian has scored twice in 4 appearances since coming back from groin surgical procedure. The ahead’s objective towards West Ham final weekend was an instance of his high quality, as he turned sharply contained in the field and fired dwelling.




The 26-year-old has scored 16 targets in 28 begins since signing for Forest, averaging a objective each 147 minutes within the Premier League. For context, that’s a greater report than Ollie Watkins (170) and Dominic Solanke (153) have managed throughout career-best campaigns this time period. Forest have to maintain him match and firing.


Everton want a repeat of ruthless Brighton beating


Everton edged out of the relegation locations on objective distinction on Monday night time, with a house draw towards Crystal Palace transferring the Toffees above Luton. Sean Dyche’s facet stay mired in hassle, nevertheless, and are eight video games and not using a win since beating Burnley in December.


Final season, a struggling Everton facet produced one of many outcomes of the marketing campaign with a 5-1 thrashing of Brighton on the Amex Stadium, a end result few noticed coming and one claimed with simply 22.3% of the possession.


 


Everton ruthlessly punished Brighton on the counter-attack with Dwight McNeil and Abdoulaye Doucoure every scoring twice and the Toffees want one other huge end result to kickstart a run to survival.


The preliminary bounce that adopted the 10-point sanction from the Premier League has slowed and an absence of targets has been problematic. No group within the division has higher underperformed their xG within the Premier League this season.


Hojlund hoping to proceed scorching streak


Rasmus Hojlund has discovered his toes within the Premier League with the Dane’s purple patch having propelled the development of Manchester United. Erik ten Hag’s group have gained 4 consecutive Premier League video games to shut the hole on the highest 4, whereas Hojlund has scored in six straight league appearances.


After taking 15 video games to open his account within the Premier League, the 21-year-old’s scoring streak has been well-timed. He’s the youngest participant within the league’s historical past to attain in six consecutive video games, whereas solely Ruud van Nistelrooy has ever managed an extended run for Manchester United (eight video games in 2001/02 and 10 video games in 2003).




Jamie Vardy holds the Premier League report for consecutive video games with a objective (11) and Hojlund – as much as 13 for the season in all competitions and assured – will hope to edge nearer to that milestone towards Fulham this weekend.


Can Jeremy Doku refind kind towards Bournemouth?


Jeremy Doku’s debut season at Manchester Metropolis has proven flashes of actual promise, with an electrical efficiency towards Bournemouth in November underlining his potential. The winger scored as soon as and supplied 4 assists within the 6-1 win, in a devastating show from the summer time signing.


Doku’s first season with the Premier League champions has been marred by inconsistency, nevertheless, with the Belgian criticised for an ineffective displaying within the 1-1 draw with Chelsea this month.


 


The 21-year-old supplied 5 objective involvements in 90 minutes of motion towards Bournemouth, at a median of 1 each 18 minutes. Throughout the rest of the season, he has averaged a objective or help each 502.5 minutes of motion.


Rawness is predicted from a younger participant in his maiden marketing campaign in English soccer, however Metropolis will hope Doku can refind his finish product this weekend.


What is going to Oliver Glasner convey to Crystal Palace?


There’s been a change at Crystal Palace with Olivier Glasner appointed because the membership’s new head coach. A stoop in outcomes and Roy Hodgson’s in poor health well being have led to a brand new route, one which is able to excite the Eagles given Glasner’s report at earlier golf equipment.


“The philosophy is easy; it is scoring goals,” Glasner mentioned forward of going through Burnley this weekend.


“As I inform the gamers, because of this we began enjoying soccer. Nobody went on the pitch after they had been younger to defend. We should always always remember this.


“The fans want to see us fighting and playing together to score a goal. Then, of course, we think about how we defend, whether a high press or a low block, but the philosophy is about scoring goals.”




 


The Austrian has cast a high-quality fame in German soccer throughout spells at Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, main the previous to Champions League qualification and the latter to European success. Glasner’s Frankfurt facet beat Rangers on penalties to win the Europa League in 2021/22, a run to continental glory that makes the 49-year-old an thrilling addition at Selhurst Park.


Simmering Premier League rivalry resumes


Arsenal’s latest clashes with Newcastle have threatened to spill over into dangerous blood, with ramifications for each groups on the high of the desk having heated up their encounters.


It started when Newcastle dealt a crushing blow to Arsenal’s top-four hopes through the 2021/22 run-in and continued into final season because the groups challenged for the title and Champions League soccer respectively.


Their final assembly on the Emirates noticed Arsenal infuriated with time-wasting techniques from the guests, who battled to a goalless attract north London.




Arsenal exacted revenge with a snug win at St James’ Park within the return, just for controversy to circle once more this season as Anthony Gordon scored a contentious winner for Newcastle on the identical venue in November.


With a lot on the road as soon as once more this weekend, don’t be stunned to see feelings boil over each on the pitch and the touchline.


Can counter-kings discover a route previous a deep defence?


Wolves have excelled on the counter-attack this season with the pace and motion of Pedro Neto, Hwang Hee-chan and Matheus Cunha thriving.


Latest wins at Chelsea and Tottenham have seen Wolves exploit house in behind, however Gary O’Neil’s group will face a special problem towards Sheffield United this weekend.


Chris Wilder’s facet are transport targets at a fast charge, setting undesirable historical past after final weekend’s 5-0 defeat to Brighton. Mason Holgate’s inexcusable crimson card contributed to the Blades being battered, within the course of turning into the primary top-flight group in historical past to concede 5+ targets in three consecutive dwelling matches in all competitions.


 


Sheffield United will likely be anticipated to pack their backline at Molineux in a safety-first strategy, and Wolves will likely be required to choose the lock of a deep-lying defence. After the summer time gross sales of Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes, do Wolves have an possibility to take action?


West Ham to hitch the managerial carousel?


David Moyes is a person underneath stress at West Ham, with the fan’s groans rising louder after a winless run. He defiantly defended his place after dropping at Nottingham Forest final weekend, however a supervisor who has divided opinions is starting to lose the religion of some.


West Ham face Brentford in a London Derby on Monday night time, on a run of six video games and not using a win and three consecutive defeats. Having threatened to problem for Europe once more, the Hammers are at risk of going backwards.




Moyes’ exit earlier than the season’s finish would characterize a shock, whereas desired candidates may very well be hesitant to reach mid-season. Nonetheless, in a summer time the place a number of main managers seem obtainable, will West Ham danger a brand new route?


 


Learn – Fantasy Premier League: The very best gamers to get on a free hit in GW26


See extra – Showboaters: 5 of the Premier League’s nice entertainers


Subscribe to our social channels:


Fb | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

The put up Premier League: Eight speaking factors forward of the weekend first appeared on The Soccer Trustworthy. Supply - thefootballfaithful.com