Chelsea host Premier League champions Manchester Metropolis in a stiff take a look at of the leaders’ title credentials on Saturday as Liverpool and Manchester United uncover to sustain tempo with Thomas Tuchel’s aspect.
The Blues look effectively-geared as a lot as total the season as English champions for the first time since 2017 after signing Romelu Lukaku so that you can add a cutting back edge to their assault.
However Liverpool, the 2020 title winners, and Manchester United are matching them, with all three teams locked on 13 aspects after 5 games.
AFP Sport takes a examine some of the talking aspects sooner than the weekend jog.
No Fears for Tuchel’s Blues
Despite the proven fact that the season is level-headed younger, aged England captain turned TV pundit Alan Shearer predicts Chelsea are going to be sophisticated to discontinuance.
Tuchel’s team beat Manchester Metropolis three instances closing season — along with in the Champions League splendid.
Since then they’ve signed Lukaku from Inter Milan and bear additionally been miserly on the abet — conceding appropriate one neutral in the league.
“Lukaku is rarely any longer the very top motive they are so formidable,” Shearer wrote in his BBC Sport column.
“They won the Champions League in May possibly perchance perchance even with out him. However his arrival plan they don’t bear a dilapidated link in their team, and they’ve such energy intensive too.”
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It is too soon to call the match at Stamford Bridge a title decider, nonetheless Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola will no longer want to head away London six aspects on the abet of one among his predominant competitors.
Norwich’s Undesirable Chronicle
Norwich bear lost their previous 15 Premier League games under Daniel Farke — the longest shedding flee by any aspect in English top-flight historic previous under a single manager.
That fear poke encompasses the tip of the 2019/20 season, when the Canaries bear been relegated to the Championship. They straight bounced abet.
Norwich got a hideous assignment on their return to the English top-flight, with their four first suits in opposition to Liverpool, Manchester Metropolis, Leicester and Arsenal sooner than closing week’s loss to Watford.
The Canaries are very top three aspects on the abet of 16th-placed Wolves nonetheless must turn their assemble around soon, with Farke asserting their leaky defence is the principle venture.
“We could possibly perchance perchance also level-headed be extra powerful to play in opposition to,” he said sooner than this weekend’s outing to Everton.
“We desire extra steel, and we could possibly perchance perchance also level-headed be nastier. We additionally want a result for the boldness.”
Can Kane Reignite Spurs?
Harry Kane has endured a lifeless commence as a lot as his season for Tottenham after a transfer to Manchester Metropolis did no longer materialise and is but to rating in the Premier League.
However Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo believes the England striker is level-headed getting as a lot as speed after Euro 2020.
“He has great extra to give and it’s regarding the game, making improvements to and increasing together,” said Nuno as he ready for Sunday’s north London derby in opposition to Arsenal.
“Referring to the squad and preparation we now bear players who bear 65/70 sessions and we now bear players who bear 15 sessions.”
After three games, Tottenham bear been top of the Premier League and Arsenal rock backside.
Since then Spurs bear suffered consecutive 3-0 defeats in opposition to Crystal Palace and Chelsea, whereas Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal bear stopped the rot with 1-0 wins over Norwich and Burnley.
Arteta said self assurance levels bear been rising after his aspect won their League Cup third round tie in opposition to AFC Wimbledon in midweek.
“Now the boys bear won three suits in a row so credit rating for the plan they’ve handled that downside and now they are in actual fact taking a stay up for playing on Sunday, which is the very top day of the season for us to this point at dwelling,” he said.
EPL Fixtures This Weekend (all instances GMT)
Saturday
Chelsea v Manchester Metropolis (1130), Manchester United v Aston Villa (1130), Everton v Norwich, Leeds v West Ham, Leicester v Burnley, Watford v Newcastle, Brentford v Liverpool (1630)
Sunday
Southampton v Wolves (1300), Arsenal v Tottenham (1530)
Monday
Crystal Palace v Brighton (1900)
AFP
