1
Castellanos and Pablo make an impact
Nuno Espírito Santo has rolled back the years in an attempt to save West Ham. He has gone old-school, switching to a gung-ho 4-4-2 system to give his side more threat in the final third. Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos, both January arrivals, have altered the face of the attack, but neither forward has been prolific. Castellanos has scored three goals in all competitions since joining from Lazio and Pablo, who is yet to open his account in English football, failed to convert during last week’s penalty shootout defeat by Leeds in the FA Cup. As a pair, though, Castellanos and Pablo have been oddly effective. Are they any good? Unclear. Do they run around a lot and give a previously ponderous West Ham more energy? Undoubtedly. Played together, Pablo and Castellanos do a worthy job for the team. Importantly, they create space for the wingers, Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville, who hopes to return from a calf injury for Friday night’s vital home game against Wolves. Bowen and Summerville are the big threats; they are West Ham’s main source of goals, but both are more dangerous with Pablo and Castellanos in the team. Jacob Steinberg
2
Havertz in line for No 10 role?
Kai Havertz’s winner for Arsenal at Sporting on Tuesday was the Gunners’ fourth Champions League goal this season to be scored or assisted by a substitute: the best return by any team in a single season in the competition’s history. It’s a knack which has led to Arsenal’s “finishers” contributing to 38 goals in all competitions this season (24 goals and 14 assists), which is more goals off the bench than for any other team in Europe’s top five leagues. With fresh doubts over Martin Ødegaard’s fitness to face Bournemouth on Saturday, Arteta may opt for Havertz in the No 10 role or could even hand Max Dowman his first Premier League start after the 16-year-old impressed in a more central role in the FA Cup loss at Southampton. Whoever gets the nod, Arteta will still have plenty in reserve on the bench if things get tight at the Emirates. Ed Aarons
3
Brentford and Everton eye Europe
Few would have expected that this match, after 31 games, would be seventh v eighth in the Premier League and potentially very significant in the race for European qualification. In the week it was confirmed five English clubs will definitely be in the Champions League next season, these two sides are only three points off fifth-placed Chelsea with seven games remaining. Even getting to the Europa League would be an incredible achievement, but neither team have not endured much pressure this season and Saturday will be a test of nerves. Keith Andrews’ side have stumbled, winning just one of their past six outings, admittedly during an injury crisis. But with more bodies now available after three weeks without a game, Brentford must arrest their slide against an Everton team with the fourth-best away form in the Premier League. Will Unwin
4
It is time for Burnley to be bolder
When Burnley lost at Brighton on 3 January, Scott Parker’s patience with his underperforming side snapped. “We lacked belief and I didn’t feel for one second that it was a team that ever believed they could come here and get a result,” Parker said. There have been some respectable moments since but some equally negative efforts in defeat, with the Clarets 10 points from safety. Relegation seems inevitable and apathy has taken over Turf Moor. The fans surely want to see something different from the drab displays they have endured for a long time. If Parker could create a concoction of fight and talent and be bolder in his decisions, Burnley could give their fans something to cheer. They have nothing to lose but some supporters to regain before what is almost certain to be a difficult Championship season. WU
5
Protests planned over Anfield prices
Disgruntlement is guaranteed at Anfield even before Arne Slot’s side attempt to win a Premier League game for the first time since February. Liverpool’s decision to increase most ticket prices by the rate of inflation for the next three seasons, capped at 5%, has sparked understandable anger around a club that posted record revenues of £703m and had the highest wage bill in the Premier League last season. The first in a series of protests – which will also include delaying season-ticket renewals and not paying for food and drink inside the stadium – is being held before the visit of Fulham as fans voice their opposition to the “normalisation” of ticket price rises over the next three years. Those voices are liable to grow louder should Liverpool’s season of diminishing returns continue. Andy Hunter
6
Mitchell aims to impress Tuchel
Tyrick Mitchell may feel that his opportunity to earn a place in England’s World Cup squad has passed him by after not being selected by Thomas Tuchel for last month’s friendlies. The Crystal Palace left-back, who won two caps under Gareth Southgate in 2022, has been one of the most consistent performers for Oliver Glasner’s side and will be hoping that he still has time to play himself into the picture. Sunday’s meeting with Newcastle is an opportunity to impress against a direct rival in Lewis Hall, who came off the bench against Uruguay and Japan but struggled to make an impact. Playing as a wingback under Glasner has probably worked against Mitchell, given Tuchel’s preference for a back four, but the 26-year-old has improved at both ends of the pitch, scoring in Thursday’s Conference League success against Fiorentina. EA
7
Anderson’s rest could benefit Forest
Every cloud, supposedly, has a silver lining. For Vítor Pereira and Nottingham Forest, Elliot Anderson’s European suspension, which caused him to miss Thursday’s trip to Porto, allowed him more rest. As a Premier League midfielder and England regular, often playing twice a week in Europe, time off is difficult to find for Anderson. . Sunday’s opponents, Aston Villa, also had to travel abroad for their Europa League quarter-final in Bologna and will arrive at the City Ground jaded. Anderson is a standout performer for Forest and if he can bring greater physicality to his team, then it could be the difference. WU
8
Le Bris and De Zerbi meet again
Back in the summer of 2024, Régis Le Bris’s Sunderland – then a Championship side – drew a pre-season friendly with Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille, 2-2 at Bradford’s Valley Parade. A few weeks earlier Le Bris had spent part of his introductory press conference talking about his admiration for the Italian and the inspiration he had taken from watching De Zerbi work at Shakhtar Donetsk and Brighton. On Sunday that knowledge could come in handy as Tottenham’s new manager makes his bow at the Stadium of Light. The pragmatic yet principled Frenchman is much less of a tactical fundamentalist than De Zerbi. It will be intriguing to see whether the latter follows a similar path as he attempts to steer Tottenham clear of relegation. Who, two summers ago, could have predicted these two coaches would meet again in the Premier League with Spurs staring at Championship football and Sunderland dreaming of Europe? Louise Taylor
9
Does Rosenior trust Lavia?
Roméo Lavia could have a big role to play against Manchester City on Sunday. With Reece James injured and Enzo Fernández on a Chelsea-branded naughty step, there is a spot available next to Moisés Caicedo in midfield. Liam Rosenior can choose between Andrey Santos, Dário Essugo and Lavia. Essugo is the obvious outsider, given he has barely played this season. Rosenior had Santos at Strasbourg and has pushed the Brazilian since becoming Chelsea’s head coach, but Lavia is a tempting option. The Belgian has had another stop-start season, with only 15 appearances in all competitions, and four months out after getting injured against Qarabag in November. Lavia has struggled to be more than an idea at Chelsea and has rarely been fit since joining for £50m-plus in 2023. However, he has started the last two games and his ability to resist the press could be vital against City. These next few weeks are important for the 22-year-old, who needs to show he has a future at Chelsea. They are interested in signing a midfielder this summer and could agree a deal for Strasbourg’s Valentín Barco. JS
10
Who will replace Maguire?
It will be 24 days since Manchester United last played a game when they host Leeds on Monday, but Harry Maguire will need to wait a little longer for his next outing. The defender is suspended after being sent off against Bournemouth, forcing Michael Carrick into a change at centre-back. With Matthijs de Ligt looking unlikely to feature again this season and Lisandro Martínez working his way back to fitness after months out, United are short of experience in the heart of their defence. Leny Yoro has partnered Maguire in recent weeks and has impressed as part of Carrick’s revolution but is still only 20. Ayden Heaven, 19, is the most likely candidate for selection but has not started a game since early January and never under Carrick, while Tyler Fredricson is untested at this level. It will be one of the most difficult calls Carrick has made in his tenure so far. WU
