EPL

Manchester derby takes centre stage this weekend – Premier League talking points

By Sports Desk October 27, 2023

After a midweek of drama in European competition, the Premier League returns with plenty of eye-catching fixtures.

As well as the first Manchester derby of the campaign, teams towards the bottom of the table go head to head.

Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the main talking points ahead of the action.

Haaland v Hojlund

Erling Haaland hit a hat-trick when Manchester City beat neighbours Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium a year ago.

The free-scoring Norway striker, however, drew a blank in a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford and the FA Cup final win in June.

City will be favourites when they make the short trip to the red side of Manchester on Sunday afternoon and Haaland will no doubt be the main goal threat.

United will hope two slender wins in the space of three days has prepared them for the derby, with their own forward, Rasmus Hojlund, in line for his first taste of the fixture.

A season finale for Toon Army’s Tonali?

Newcastle splashed a handsome £55million to land Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali in the summer – but he has just been hit with a 10-month ban after admitting to betting charges during his time at AC Milan.

While the suspension rules Tonali out for the remainder of the campaign – as well as Euro 2024 should holders Italy qualify – Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is hopeful he will have one of his new recruits available for Saturday’s trip to Wolves.

According to reports, authorities in Italy are yet to ratify the ban, opening up the prospect of a season swansong for the 23-year-old.

Bournemouth and Burnley in battle at the bottom

Between them, Bournemouth and their weekend visitors Burnley have taken just seven points from 18 Premier League games this season – leaving both sides in the bottom three.

Cherries head coach Andoni Iraola will be hoping to pick up a first league victory since his appointment in the summer with newly-promoted Burnley suffering similar struggles.

Vincent Kompany’s men won at Luton earlier in the month and, despite the slow start of both teams, victory at the Vitality Stadium could take them above the drop zone.

Luton go behind Emery lines

Luton’s five points keeps them just ahead of the bottom three heading into the weekend’s round of fixtures, but the Hatters face what is becoming an increasingly daunting prospect – a trip to Villa Park.

Unai Emery has guided Aston Villa to 11 successive home wins, with Arsenal the last side to leave with three points well back in April.

Luton will be buoyed from the fact they battled from two down to draw 2-2 at Nottingham Forest last week, but recent history is against Rob Edwards and his players, who will also be tasked with keeping the in-form Ollie Watkins quiet.

Blunted Blades face Arsenal test

While Bournemouth, Burnley and Luton are early strugglers, the Premier League table is being propped up by winless Sheffield United.

The Blades have taken just one point from their opening nine outings back in the top-flight – although boss Paul Heckingbottom will take some comfort from their improved showing in a 2-1 loss to Manchester United last time out.

They head to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, coming up against unbeaten Arsenal who will be keen to keep pace at the top as Mikel Arteta aims to build another sustained title tilt.

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  • Haaland has 'full trust' in Guardiola to halt Man City slump Haaland has 'full trust' in Guardiola to halt Man City slump

    Erling Haaland has "full trust" in the "best manager in the world", Pep Guardiola, to get Manchester City back on track against Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday. 

    Guardiola's side have lost four matches in a row across all competitions, which is the Spaniard's longest losing run in his entire managerial career. 

    The Citizens last lost more consecutively between March and April 2006 under Stuart Pearce (six – the fifth game of which was also against Tottenham).

    But after putting pen to paper on a new two-year contract extension at the club earlier this week, Guardiola has his eyes firmly set on returning to winning ways on home soil. 

    And Haaland, who has scored 105 goals in 114 appearances under Guardiola at City, believes they can make up the gap to leaders Liverpool, who are five points ahead. 

    "When you look at what he's been doing for the club, he's not bad, is he? So he's got my full trust," Haaland told Sky Sports. 

    "And if he tells me something, I'd better do it because he knows the best in the end. Everyone knows that. So I'm sure he will find solutions now as well. I'm sure of that.

    "[Guardiola] demands us to be at our best in every training session, in every game. And that's what we need to do. It hasn't been good enough, losing four games now, but let's try to win the next."

  • Arsenal handed another injury blow as White ruled out for 'months' Arsenal handed another injury blow as White ruled out for 'months'

    Mikel Arteta confirmed that Arsenal defender Ben White is facing "months" on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury. 

    White had been dealing with several issues all season and has missed five games in all competitions for the Gunners already this term. 

    After struggling through until the November international break, the decision was taken for him to undergo surgery in order to finally address the ongoing problems.

    It serves as a bitter blow for Arteta, with only Thomas Parety (13) making more interceptions than White (11) for Arsenal in the Premier League this campaign. 

    Though Arteta confirmed that the surgery was successful, White is set for a lengthy spell out of the team. 

    "It has been different kinds of struggles. It has never been the same thing, but we had to make a decision. He has not improved over the last few weeks, unfortunately," said Arteta.

    "We know that Ben is going to push every boundary, but it got to the point where we have to protect the player and we decided to do the surgery.

    "He agreed with that and it is going to keep him out for a few months."

    Asked for a specific time frame, Arteta added: "We have to see how he reacts post-surgery. I don't expect it to be half a year, but I cannot tell you exactly."

    It offers a concern for Arteta in the full-back area, with the Spaniard also revealing on Friday that Takehiro Tomiyasu is "going to be out as well for a bit".

    There was, however, some positive injury news for the Gunners ahead of welcoming Nottingham Forest to the Emirates on Saturday. 

    After not featuring for England during the international break, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are expected to be fit to feature against Nuno Espirito Santo's side. 

    Leandro Trossard will also be available for Arteta despite picking up a hamstring injury during the international break with Belgium.

    Defender Riccardo Calafiori is also in contention for Saturday's game after a month out with a knee problem. 

  • Conte hopes for Ranieri's success at Roma after Napoli clash Conte hopes for Ranieri's success at Roma after Napoli clash

    Antonio Conte hopes that everything will go well for Claudio Ranieri after he came out of retirement to take charge of Roma, but only after their Serie A clash this weekend.

    Ranieri was tempted back into management by a return to where he began as a player. His third spell at Roma comes after the club sacked two coaches already this season and with the team 12th in the standings.

    A trip to leaders Napoli is Ranieri's first task, and Conte is looking forward to meeting up with the 73-year-old.

    "I am pleased to see Claudio, I have great esteem for him and there is also friendship," Conte told reporters ahead of Sunday's game.

    "I am happy with the chance he has been given. It will be a tough game, for us and for them. Last year, Roma finished ahead of Napoli, they are in the Europa League and had a good transfer window.

    "They are not performing according to expectations and I hope for Claudio that everything starts to work after Sunday's game."

    The arrival of Ranieri in place of Ivan Juric brings with it not just the danger of the 'new manager bounce' but also upsets Conte's plans for the game.

    "When a team changes coach there is an important input on a nervous level," Conte said.

    "They are at the third change on the bench. It's inevitable that, if Juric had remained, we knew what kind of team we were going to face.

    "Now it's an enigma, we don't have much information nor do we know how they will deal with us. So let's think about ourselves, there is a desire and enthusiasm to continue this path."

    After a streak of 21 consecutive home wins in Serie A, Conte lost his last home league match (0-3 against Atalanta). Only once in his career has he recorded two consecutive home defeats in the competition: in November 2009, when he was in charge of Atalanta (against Juventus and Roma).

    Napoli are top of the table, but Conte knows it is still early, and with just two points separating the top six clubs, which includes the likes of Atalanta, Fiorentina and Lazio, for now, it is a different title race than usual.

    "Only 12 games have passed and there are many teams within very few points," he said.

    "We are doing well, but so are the others. There isn't one team which has distanced the others. Perhaps there is a little amazement in seeing some teams in those positions in the standings."

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