What's the biggest question for YOUR team to answer?
Can Darwin Nunez end his false start? Will Lisandro Martinez stop Erling Haaland’s stampede? Has Son timed his form perfectly for the derby? The biggest question YOUR team has to answer as the Premier League returns
- The Premier League returns this weekend after this month’s international break
- Several teams are dealing with issues, from under-fire managers to poor form
- Find out the biggest question your team has to answer going into the weekend
The Premier League returns this weekend after the final international break before the Qatar World Cup.
There’s a lot to cram in during the seven weeks before players jet off for the tournament, with European and domestic football both well underway in the new season.
With under-fire managers and the form of several of the league’s stars under the spotlight, a number of questions will be answered in the next two months.
But what’s the biggest question your team has to answer as we prepare to get underway again?
Erling Haaland will try to continue his fine goal-scoring form in Sunday’s Manchester derby
ARSENAL
Ahead of last season’s north London derby, photographer Stuart MacFarlane provided Arsenal’s team talk which inspired a 3-1 win.
‘I f***ing love all of you,’ he said. Which of Mikel Arteta’s staff members can follow that?
ASTON VILLA
Their win over Southampton was so uninspiring that John McGinn admitted he would have turned off the telly.
But it was a second league win and Steven Gerrard needs to rebuild momentum. Can Villa lay down another building block at Leeds on Sunday?
BOURNEMOUTH
Gary O’Neil was handed the reins and his first task was to pick through the debris of a 9-0 defeat. He has since overseen two draws and a victory.
What will be enough to convince the club’s new owners he deserves the job?
Gary O’Neil could be handed the Bournemouth manager’s job after impressing as interim
BRENTFORD
Ivan Toney returns from his maiden England call-up without having secured a first cap.
That could spell bad news for Bournemouth on Saturday: can Toney make a point to Gareth Southgate?
BRIGHTON
Tough job following Graham Potter. Even tougher when your first match is against Liverpool at Anfield.
Good luck, Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian sees a lot of similarities with his predecessor. Will this be evolution or revolution?
CHELSEA
Three weeks have passed since Chelsea hired Potter, yet his new era has been confined to a 1-1 draw with Salzburg.
Will Saturday at Palace bring the first signs of his impact behind the scenes?
Graham Potter will finally take charge of his first league game as Chelsea boss this weekend
CRYSTAL PALACE
Since October 2017, Palace have lost all nine league games against Chelsea — only against Liverpool (10) have they lost more matches on the spin. Can they stop the rot on Saturday?
EVERTON
A first goal from Neal Maupay brought Everton their first league win of the season before the international break, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s imminent return from injury remains crucial for their prospects.
Can he rediscover his best under Frank Lampard?
FULHAM
How to plug a hole shaped like Joao Palhinha? The powerful midfielder has been pivotal for Fulham but will be suspended against Newcastle on Saturday.
LEEDS
Patrick Bamford’s hopes of making England’s World Cup squad seem to have faded.
But after more injury woe, the 29-year-old looks set to return for Leeds against Aston Villa on Sunday. Can Jesse Marsch keep him fit — and get him firing once more?
Patrick Bamford will almost certainly miss out on England’s World Cup squad this winter
LEICESTER
The tea leaves make for mixed reading for Brendan Rodgers.
Over the past decade, three teams have been bottom after seven matches and avoided relegation — but all three changed their manager in the process. Stick or twist?
LIVERPOOL
Luis Suarez spent several seasons digging Liverpool out of holes. Has he just helped another Uruguay forward clamber out of his?
Suarez created Darwin Nunez’s first goal in nearly two months against Canada. Will that end his false start on Merseyside?
Darwin Nunez needs to find form quickly after a poor start to life as Liverpool’s centre-forward
MAN CITY
It has been a while since City enjoyed back-to-back home wins over United. 2014, in fact.
Their run in the eight seasons since then? LDLWLLLW. Can Pep Guardiola end that run?
MAN UNITED
Lisandro Martinez was too small. Then he was United’s player of the month. Now he’s compared to Roy Keane.
Next up? Erling Haaland. They have met once before: Martinez won 4-0. Will he stop Haaland’s stampede again?
Lisandro Martinez was named Manchester United’s player of the month for September
NEWCASTLE
Not since joining Newcastle has Eddie Howe gone six league matches without a win. Until now.
The manager has credit in the bank, but can the fit-again Callum Wilson help him end that run?
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Lose at Leicester and Steve Cooper’s side will sit bottom after five straight defeats.
It can’t be easy bedding in 22 new signings, but inevitably you wonder: come their next splurge, will he still be in charge?
SOUTHAMPTON
Another loan for Ainsley Maitland-Niles and, so far, another round of teething problems.
The versatile 25-year-old has played just 17 minutes this season, with Ralph Hasenhuttl admitting he has ‘a lot of work to do’. Will it finally come right this time?
TOTTENHAM
After eight matches without a goal, Son Heung-min has five in three: a hat-trick for Spurs followed by two for South Korea.
The catalyst? Antonio Conte benching him against Leicester. Has Son timed this run perfectly for the derby?
Son Heung-Min seems to have to hit form for Tottenham and scored a hat-trick last time out
WEST HAM
Tomas Soucek made a fine start to life at West Ham but his performances have been on the wane for a while.
Can someone in east London find a new recipe for potato salad, the midfielder’s typical fuel?
WOLVES
A treat awaits Wolves fans at West Ham: Diego Costa is in line for his debut.
At 33, his scoring prowess may be fading, but what remains of his powers of mischief?
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