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Premier League talking points ahead of the weekend

Our talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend, featuring Ange Postecoglou’s precarious position, Mohamed Salah’s struggles, and advantage Arsenal in the title race.

Is Ange already on the edge?

The decision from Nottingham Forest to fire Nuno Espirito Santo and hire Ange Postecoglou appeared rash at the time and with each week has proven stranger.

Postecoglou has proven, in the right environment, that he is a capable coach but the stylistic shift from his predecessor’s approach has caused chaos. Key figures from last season’s success, including Chris Wood and Nikola Milenkovic, appeared unsuited to the new demands, with Forest winless under the Australian.

Already the bookies’ favourite to be next to leave, rumours of Sean Dyche and Rafael Benitez being lined up as replacements indicate Evangelos Marinakis might already feel he got this one wrong.

Sunderland sense chance to climb clear

Sunderland will have been delighted with their start to a first top-flight season in almost a decade. Aware of the concerning gap between the top two divisions, Sunderland spent big in the summer and have so far reaped the rewards. Regis Le Bris has guided the side to 11 points from seven games, enough to have the Black Cats in the top half.

Next up are Wolves at the Stadium of Light, a side rooted to the bottom and without a win. Three points for Sunderland, unbeaten on home soil, will keep them at least seven clear of the relegation places and a huge 12 clear of this weekend’s opponents.

Even more pertinently, it would mean Sunderland have already eclipsed the points total that relegated Southampton achieved last season (12).

Parker and Farke out to prove they’re top-tier managers

Scott Parker and Daniel Farke have earned their stripes as Championship coaches, winning a combined six promotions, with five different clubs, from the second tier.

Things have proven rather more difficult in the Premier League, however, with the duo boasting the lowest points-per-game averages of any managers to oversee 50+ matches (Parker 0.75 and Farke 0.61).

The two meet this weekend, in a relegation six-pointer between last season’s Championship top two. The winner will be a step closer to the potential prize of consolidation.

Arsenal have chance to up the title pressure

Arsenal capitalised on Liverpool’s wobbles before the break to take top spot in the table. A point clear of the champions, the Gunners have an opportunity to up the pressure on the out-of-form Reds this weekend. Playing a day earlier, Arsenal can move four points clear when they face Fulham on Saturday evening.

It’s the sort of fixture that represents a banana skin, but is one Mikel Arteta’s side must navigate with maximum points if they are to become champions. Arsenal have not won on their last two visits to Craven Cottage, offering a litmus test of their championship credentials.

Can Salah ignite season against favoured opponent?

Even given an anticipated drop-off from last season’s record-breaking numbers, Mohamed Salah’s struggles this season have been stark.

The Golden Boot holder has netted just once from open play in the Premier League, while the data backs up an eye test that suggests he’s been far less involved – and effective.

He’s completed just one of eight attempted take-ons, and against Chelsea before the international break had the fewest touches (35) of any outfielder who played 90 minutes. Given how Liverpool have often funnelled their attack through Salah, that’s a huge concern.

Salah can take confidence from two goals for Egypt during the break, while Sunday brings his favoured opponent to town. He has scored 16 goals in 17 career appearances against Manchester United, perhaps the perfect fixture to ignite his season.

West Ham to turn to youngster who is ‘a little bit like Harry Kane’

West Ham’s striker issues has been one of the Premier League’s longest-lasting problem positions. Think Manchester United’s six-year struggle to replace Peter Schmeichel, or Liverpool’s three-year wait for a reliable forward between Michael Owen and Fernando Torres.

West Ham have not had a player reach 20+ goals (in all competitions) in a top-flight season since John Hartson in 1997/98, while it’s been 39 years since their last player to score 20 league goals in a top-flight campaign.

Big money signings have come and gone without success, and the absence of the often-injured Niclas Fullkrug leaves new head coach Nuno Espirito Santo with a headache. The 33-year-old Callum Wilson has started just one league game since joining on a free in the summer, so could Nuno turn the academy?

Callum Marshall made his Premier League debut off the bench against Arsenal before the break and has won plaudits at youth level. Former West Ham midfielder Kevin Keen has compared Marshall, who was named Huddersfield Town Player of the Year on loan at the third-tier side last season, to Harry Kane.

“There’s a poacher instinct to him,” Keen told The Standard. “His goal in the Youth Cup final [when West Ham battered Arsenal 5-1 in 2023] sums it up. From probably about three or four yards, he’s got between bodies and volleyed it in.

“He’s also got that ability to score from near the edge of the box, a little bit like Harry Kane hits those low shots into far corners.”

Read – 📈 Power Rankings: Liverpool drop out, Barcelona stumble

See more – The five best goalkeepers in the Premier League right now

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