1
Villa must learn to handle pressure
Aston Villa, third in the Premier League, chasing Champions League qualification and the Europa League title, will be expected to beat Leeds on home soil. But Unai Emery’s side have struggled of late in games where the pressure is on and the onus is upon them to be the aggressor. After exiting the FA Cup to Newcastle, Marco Bizot’s moment of madness all but ending their hopes of reaching the fifth round, it is back to league duty. They eked out an ugly win over Brighton, just the kind of result they would be happy with this weekend, but recently they also lost at home to 10-man Brentford and to Everton. Before that they drew at lowly Crystal Palace, though Oliver Glasner’s side have been a bogey team for Villa. This week Bizot apologised for his rush of blood. Which Villa will turn up against Leeds? Ben Fisher
2
Hürzeler urgently needs an impact
For a time, Brentford were depicted as a junior relation to Brighton. That idea was helped along by their owners, Matthew Benham and Tony Bloom, being former colleagues. This season, Benham holds the superior hand. Keith Andrews is on course to surpass the highest points total achieved by Thomas Frank, previously thought irreplaceable. Brighton, meanwhile, begin to look over their shoulder. Many supporters are unhappy with Fabian Hürzeler’s in-game management and selections, but how strong a squad does he command? Was the money received for Alexis Mac Allister, Moisés Caicedo and João Pedro actually spent well by a club widely admired for its recruitment? Carlos Baleba is the £100m-rated heir apparent to Caicedo but incapable of seeing out 90 minutes, and around £90m was spent on a callow bunch last summer. Hürzeler’s team have not won in the top flight since 3 January, when they beat Burnley, and that was their only victory in the Premier League since November. The head coach needs players making an impact sooner rather than later. John Brewin
3
Walker could be given the runaround
This season has become a struggle for Kyle Walker, forcing him to learn about football at the other end of the table after spending so many years at the top. He has looked susceptible against players with pace, with his own speed starting to let the 35-year-old down. Considering the array of wingers available to Liam Rosenior, he could be in for a tough afternoon at Stamford Bridge but Walker is someone who likes a challenge. An afternoon up against Alejandro Garnacho, for example, would be a true test of Walker’s capabilities and an examination of whether he still has the same attributes that made him one of world’s best right-backs. If he is given the runaround it could be the final indication that Walker’s time in the Premier League will end, perhaps along with Burnley. However, if he can roll back the years, it could offer some much-needed inspiration for a club facing a third top-flight relegation in succession. Will Unwin
4
West Ham green with transfer envy
Andoni Iraola answers each question on his future with an enigmatic shrug, but the situation will play out soon enough. Should the Basque have just 12 games left in charge of a club where he has won hearts and minds, he will leave the next manager a considerable legacy, inheriting a talented squad. As with Antoine Semenyo, Iraola honed a Football League talent, converting Alex Scott’s raw materials into a player capable of dominating opponents, adding doggedness to grace. Rayan’s performances since arriving have caught the eye but Eli Junior Kroupi’s explosive finishing and the speed of Amine Adli have added attacking dimensions. Another January arrival, the Hungarian attacking midfielder Alex Toth, 20, was much coveted. Bournemouth’s agility in transfer dealings comes by thudding comparison to the short-termism that hobbles West Ham. Taty Castellanos has been a minor hit since his January switch but Hammers fans can only dream of the sensible, ordered recruitment in train at Saturday’s opponents. JB
5
A strike partner for Haaland?
Finding opportunities to rest Erling Haaland has not always been easy for Pep Guardiola. A knock helped rule him out against League Two Salford City for what turned out to be a laborious 2-0 win, giving the Norwegian the chance of a free weekend. In the recent Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Saturday’s opponent’s Newcastle, Haaland started on the bench and watched as City made light work of a confused visiting defence. Guardiola knows how to cause damage against Eddie Howe’s side and reinstating Haaland to the lineup can only be an advantage considering his ludicrous goal record since arriving in England. It is a wonder, however, if Guardiola will start with the same setup that reaped rewards the last time the two met, with a striking partnership that was almost operating as wingers, pulling the centre-backs around to create space for midfielders. Haaland being on the right would give him a better angle to run in behind and leave Newcastle pondering how to stop him and either Antoine Semenyo or Omar Marmoush. WU
6
Buoyant Wolves knocking at Palace’s door
Only Wolves have fewer home wins than Crystal Palace this season, with supporters last able to celebrate a Premier League victory back on 1 November. Eight games without a win is Palace’s worst run in the top flight at Selhurst Park since they went 15 in 1998 and finished rock bottom under caretaker Attilio Lombardo. Oliver Glasner’s approach is much better suited to hitting teams on the break and they are vulnerable against sides who like to employ the same tactics when they arrive in south London. After letting a 2-0 lead slip against Burnley last week, Palace will be desperate to put some daylight between them and the relegation zone against Wolves on Saturday. But having travelled to Mostar on Thursday in the Conference League, they will have a 24-hour preparation disadvantage against the team that produced a stirring comeback against Arsenal in their last outing. Ed Aarons
7
In-form Wirtz a new threat for Forest
Now that Florian Wirtz has settled into the Premier League and is flourishing as a No 10, he will face an intriguing battle at the City Ground against Ibrahim Sangaré. When on his game, the Forest central midfielder makes his team more stable and difficult to break down, but he will be severely tested against the Germany international who is smart in his movement and passes. After a tumultuous week in Nottingham, Vítor Pereira needs to show he has created an organised structure. Considering Forest won 3-0 at Anfield three months ago under Sean Dyche, the result on Sunday will be a strong indicator of where things have regressed amid the constant uncertainty. Wirtz did not play that day, so it will provide a new problem for Sangaré and Elliot Anderson, the most likely pairing. If they cannot cope, it feels like the game will be Liverpool’s for the taking. WU
8
‘Crown jewel’ Le Fée proves his worth
Sunderland are expected to, once again, be without their captain, Granit Xhaka, when Fulham visit the Stadium of Light on Sunday but at least Régis Le Bris has Enzo Le Fée available to occupy Xhaka’s customary deep midfield role alongside Noah Sadiki. On the ball, Le Fée is Sunderland’s most gifted player but, off it, the 5ft 7in Frenchman has proved a perhaps unexpected hive of industry, controlling Sunderland’s press while contributing an impressive litany of interceptions and tackles as he chases and harries opponents. Above all, his reading of the game is, like his passing, superb. When he coached Le Fée at Lorient, Le Bris described the midfielder as his “crown jewel” and, after beginning this season on the bench, a player he first coached as a child in Lorient’s academy has variously shone on the left, in a playmaking No 10 role and, lately, as a fluid No 8/No 6 hybrid. While the excellent Xhaka rightly remains the leading candidate to become Sunderland’s player of the season, Le Fée is likely to be very much part of the conversation. Louise Taylor
9
Spurs embark on Tudor era in derby
Igor Tudor will mark his first game in charge of Tottenham by facing not only the club’s fiercest rivals but also the best team in the world, according to Pep Guardiola. Thomas Frank was sacked after two wins in 17 Premier League matches, leaving the club in some relegation strife, so starting the turnaround against Arsenal is a tricky proposition. On the upside, the players should be somewhat refreshed after 12 days without a game and time to work with the Croatian on the training ground. Having favoured a back three during his career, Tudor will need to concoct a Plan B. Cristian Romero is suspended, while Ben Davies and Kevin Danso are injured, leaving him with limited centre-back choices, in addition to the wing-back Destiny Udogie being out and Pedro Perro potentially only just returning from a hamstring problem. Arsenal have the league’s second-most prolific attack and plenty of momentum going forward, which spells danger for Tudor and his coaching merits. WU
10
Supersub Sesko pushing for a start
After failing to win for the first time in his five games in charge, Michael Carrick will naturally wonder if he needs to change something, not that there was any great shame in drawing at West Ham. One potential option for him is to start Benjamin Sesko after he came off the bench to score a sublime equaliser in east London. Since Ruben Amorim left, Sesko has five goals in six matches and looks a different striker to the one who had lumbered to two in 21 for club and country this season. Considering the aerial capabilities of Everton’s defences in both boxes, the prospect of a little extra height could help United, while also allowing Carrick to keep Amad Diallo on the bench to test tiring legs late on, while moving Bryan Mbeumo out to the left. If Sesko is not given a chance from the start, he knows how to make an impact off the bench and being a trusted substitute would offer give him a marked role under the new regime. WU
