1
Rice rested and refreshed?
Declan Rice’s future role in England’s midfield was questioned by Gary Lineker after Alex Scott’s impressive first senior international start in the 7-0 thrashing of Croatia. But the decision to withdraw from Thomas Tuchel’s squad in an attempt to manage his workload made sense after Rice had only three weeks off post-World Cup before returning to pre-season training. The 27-year-old has struggled with persistent back problems after suffering a hamstring injury last December and Mikel Arteta will hope that the rest has done Rice – who is thought to be close to agreeing a lucrative new contract at the Emirates – the world of good as they prepare to resume the defence of their Premier League title against Leeds on Saturday. Ed Aarons
2
Ready? Garnacho’s time to shine
Several Aston Villa players shone for their countries during the international window but one of those who stayed with the club may have made the biggest impression on Unai Emery. Villa’s remaining squad went to Spain for a mid-season training camp, including Alejandro Garnacho, whose last cap for Argentina was almost two years ago. Garnacho has been lesser-spotted in a Villa shirt, playing just 31 minutes as a substitute, but scored in both of Villa’s friendlies during the break, against Southampton and Sevilla. The 22-year-old, who joined Villa on loan from Chelsea in the summer with a conditional obligation, was an unused substitute for their past matches but is he now primed to affect games? Villa are hopeful Emery has unlocked Garnacho, who has struggled for form since leaving Manchester United. “Ready now!” Garnacho posted on social media last weekend and Villa will hope that is the case. Ben Fisher
3
Toth can soothe pain of Scott’s injury
With Eli Junior Kroupi, Amine Adli, Veljko Milosavljevic and Julián Araujo yet to feature this season due to injury, Marco Rose must have been tearing his remaining hair out upon learning Alex Scott got hurt on England duty and will be out of action for two months. Sitting 17th and still searching for their first league win, the German’s side squandered nine points from winning positions in four of their first five games – and it was the 23-year-old who was central in ensuring Bournemouth had those leads in the first place. With just 55 minutes of football behind him this season, it seems unlikely Alex Toth will get the nod to replace Scott when Bournemouth travel to Chelsea with the older, more experienced Ryan Christie available and in good form. But having forced his way into the Hungary starting lineup during the international break it would be no surprise to see the 20-year-old get more minutes with a view to being used far more often given his side’s gruelling schedule of nine matches in the next month. Barry Glendenning
Chelsea v Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm
4
Ipswich’s calm an obstacle for Fulham
Ipswich’s place in mid-table, their total of six points, came via victories over Sunderland and Crystal Palace. Gary O’Neil’s team were presented with a tough opening schedule, and while defeated by Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, their manager has not allowed those reverses to dilute team spirit. Speaking to the media following the home defeat by Liverpool, O’Neil painted an ultra-positive picture that defied most observers’ view of a game beyond his team’s reach from the early stages. Thus far, a successful strategy, certainly by comparison to early season at winless Fulham. Like O’Neil, Álvaro Arbeloa is new to his job. An improved performance in the draw against United did not result in a victory Fulham deserved, though there were signs of the progressive, attacking football the arrival of the former Real Madrid interim promised. Much of the burden has fallen on Josh King, the teenager building on last year’s breakthrough season. John Brewin
5
Ballard’s absence a boon for Brighton
Still in the Carabao Cup, with a Europa League campaign to negotiate and just four points acquired from their opening five Premier League excursions, the games are about to start coming thick and fast for a Sunderland side whose ability to cope with such a hectic schedule remains to be seen. Having lost Dan Ballard and Brian Brobbey to hamstring injuries during the international break, Régis Le Bris will have to reshuffle his pack against a free-scoring Brighton side who make the 700-mile round trip to Wearside for their first game since embarrassing Arsenal three weeks ago. While Wilson Isidor will almost certainly deputise for Brobbey, Ballard’s centre-back berth will be filled by either Omar Alderete or Nordi Mukiele. Having shipped five last time out against Manchester City, a Sunderland defence that had looked conspicuously porous in the early stages of this season will need all their focus if they are to stop the gallop of a team that have already scored 16 goals. BG.
6
Crisis talk lingers in air at Old Trafford
If “Dr Tottenham” is a thing, Manchester United possess their own healing powers for opponents. Self-harm is a factor too. They rolled out the welcome mat to Premier League newcomers Hull on opening day and Brighton were ushered back into a Carabao Cup tie. In United’s final game before the international break flagging Fulham were able to restore some faith, their goal via slapstick defending from Lisandro Martínez and Senne Lammens. Can Old Trafford, where fans will have regulatory matters at City to celebrate, lift the gloom for Tottenham? This season, like last season and the one before that, Spurs have assumed the mantle of crisis club, a status Michael Carrick’s January arrival temporarily removed from United. Lose to Tottenham, and the crisis prefix is likely to be reattached. Tottenham have done damage before. In September 2024, a 3-0 Spurs win at Old Trafford began Erik ten Hag’s hurtle towards the exit. Losing the Europa League final started Ruben Amorim’s downward spiral. Carrick beware? JB
7
Fiery reception for Glasner at Palace
All eyes will be on Oliver Glasner as he returns to Selhurst Park with Nottingham Forest on an afternoon that will be emotionally charged for both sets of supporters and in the boardroom. The Crystal Palace chair, Steve Parish, sought to defuse tensions last week when he urged fans to “buck the trend” by welcoming the manager who led the south London club to the first three major trophies in their history in the space of 12 months. “I would be mortified if he gets anything other than the roof blown off,” said Parish. But given the strength of feeling towards Forest and their owner, Evangelos Marinakis – who is still blamed by some for Palace’s demotion to the Conference League at the expense of Forest last season – many have still not forgiven Glasner for joining their rivals and could still make their feelings known when the Austrian takes his seat in the dugout before kick-off. EA
8
Aerial battle of the dead-ball bosses
In Sergej Jakirovic and David Moyes, Hull City and Everton boast two of the more “pragmatic” managers in the Premier League. Renowned for their safety-first defensive styles, both teams are happy to surrender possession, rank among the top flight’s lowest sides in pass completion rates, and rely on rapid transitions and set pieces for a major share of their total expected goals. A game featuring two defences that pride themselves on their obduracy may well be settled by a well-delivered dead ball into a packed penalty area. While it may not be aesthetically pleasing, expect to see the massed ranks of defenders on both sides spending much of Sunday afternoon bracing themselves for rearguard action while peering towards the sky. The last time these sides met in the Premier League, Everton ran out easy 4-0 winners. A decade on, the aerial traffic is unlikely to be quite so one-way. BG
9
Anfield to turn up heat on besieged City
Manchester City resume playing under the darkest of clouds, with a visit to their greatest rivals of a golden period now shrouded by a guilty verdict. Five Premier League wins from five under Enzo Maresca had offered hopes of success in a post-Pep Guardiola era. The dial has since moved on what constitutes success for a club where minds are consumed by legal issues but the band must play on. Can Maresca summon a siege mentality? City lifted a treble, including the Champions League, when the 100-plus charges first came to public light in 2023. The Anfield crowd will readily remind City of the infamy their club faces down. That Guardiola’s now-disputed dominance came at the cost of Jürgen Klopp’s great team will add to the ire, and very probably the pyro greeting to Anfield. Cool heads may be required in the policing and on the field, to which a return to focusing on football may offer welcome relief. JB
10
Will Coventry build on first win?
International football’s incursions have curbed the adrenaline rush of Coventry’s win at Nottingham Forest and Jay Dasilva’s brilliant goal, his club’s first in the top division since 2001. That gave Frank Lampard foundations to build on, a blueprint, where Forest were allowed to blow themselves out before Dasilva’s strike came on the counter. It was Stephen Mfuni, 18, on loan from Manchester City, who starred in that rearguard effort on his Premier League debut. Coventry now seek a first Premier League goal at a stadium opened in 2005, after the club’s long decline had set in. Newcastle this week passed five years of the ownership of a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. There have been two seasons of Champions League football, a trophy lifted and yet a sense of unfulfilled promise. Matthias Jaissle is leading the second phase of a jagged development process, this season’s positive signs tempered by reverses such as the 4-1 defeat by Leeds, shows how far Coventry must travel. JB
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