Premier League midweek speaking factors: Joe Gomez shines for Liverpool as Thomas Frank and Mikel Arteta search for response

With each single Premier League match this midweek reside on Sky Sports, our soccer writers talk about the principle speaking factors from every sport…

Will Haaland be a part of the 100 Club on Tuesday?

Fulham vs Man City – Tuesday, kick-off 7.30pm

When Erling Haaland hit his 99th Premier League aim in Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Liverpool on November 9, it appeared solely a matter of time earlier than he would be a part of the ‘100 Club’, the place solely 34 gamers within the competitors’s historical past have scored a century or extra.

But regardless of taking part in everything of the video games in opposition to Newcastle and Leeds that adopted, that milestone aim has up to now eluded him. This two-game barren spell is uncommon – however appears to be like prone to finish on Tuesday evening if historical past is something to go by.

The Norwegian has scored six objectives in six Premier League appearances in opposition to Fulham, probably the most of any participant for the reason that Cottagers returned to the highest flight in 2022/23. The final was a penalty on the ultimate day of 2024/25.

Standing in the best way is a Fulham crew that has thrived on house soil up to now, although. Last time period, they picked up 26 factors at Craven Cottage, averaging 1.36 factors per sport. They have already got 13 this season, which equates to a massively improved common of two.17.

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Only Arsenal (2) have conceded lower than the three they’ve shipped at house up to now.

Fulham’s fortress will both deny Haaland historical past once more, or be the stage on which he lastly writes it.
Dan Long

Leaky defence forces Cherries’ quick begin to falter

Bournemouth vs Everton – Tuesday, kick-off 7.30pm

The Premier League comes at you quick – and nobody is aware of that higher than Bournemouth.

At the top of October, Andoni Iraola’s aspect had been sitting fairly in fifth place within the Premier League, unbeaten in seven, with their solely loss coming to champions Liverpool on the opening day of the season. But, in only a month, their fortunes have fully modified.

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November was – to place it politely – dismal. The Cherries picked up one level out of a attainable 12 – some extent salvaged from two down at house to strugglers West Ham – and conceded a whopping 12 objectives of their 4 outings besides.

Their sudden lack of type has seen them drop to eleventh within the desk, solely two factors forward of Fulham in fifteenth. To sustain early-season hopes of European soccer, one thing wants to vary – and quick.

The south coast aspect face maybe the proper opponents in Everton. They are nonetheless unbeaten at house and have extra Premier League wins, objectives and factors in opposition to the Toffees than another aspect of their historical past.

The guests’ striker, Thierno Barry, will not be precisely within the sort of type that strikes concern into defenders’ hearts. The Frenchman has but to register a shot heading in the right direction in 551 league minutes and seemed limp in his aspect’s 4-1 house drubbing to Newcastle on Saturday.

Bournemouth may need a neater evening’s sleep forward of Tuesday’s sport. It’s precisely the kind of fixture they should revive their type; however a primary loss on the Vitality will see critical questions begin to be requested heading into the busiest interval of the season.
Noah Langford

Is Frank happening the identical highway as Nuno?

Newcastle vs Spurs – Tuesday, kick-off 8.15pm

It’s poisonous at Tottenham – and never for the primary time.

Go again to the 2021/22 season and Spurs had crushed Manchester City, however early momentum was quashed by damning house defeats to Chelsea and Arsenal. In a sport in opposition to Manchester Utd, a Spurs substitution was booed by their very own followers, who weren’t impressed with their new head coach’s type of play.

Sound acquainted?

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Thomas Frank’s begin to life at Spurs bares a really related resemblance to Nuno Espirito Santo’s brief, ill-fated reign in north London. And given Nuno was sacked after 10 video games, with the supporters’ belief saying he was “not the right manager” for the membership, it is not a very good signal for the Dane.

With the shadow of the trophy-winning Ange Postecoglou nonetheless looming over Spurs’ state of affairs, there’s deep unrest.

There are points involving the gamers – with Guglielmo Vicario and Pedro Porro’s supporter drama in Saturday’s loss to Fulham following the Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence spat of frustration after the loss to Chelsea. But will Frank change into the one primarily within the hearth quickly?

Spurs are within the backside three within the Premier League this season for pictures and probabilities created, whereas just one Premeir League crew has given the ball away extra instances. They have additionally made a league-high 12 errors resulting in a shot.

Frank will level to the very fact he’s initially of a rebuilding mission – and his need to “add layers” to this crew. But with Spurs going to Newcastle – a crew they’ve already misplaced to this season within the Carbaao Cup – how a lot are their stressed followers keen to take?
Sam Blitz

Should Arteta rotate his Arsenal squad?

Arsenal vs Brentford – Wednesday, kick-off 7.30pm

Arsenal weren’t themselves at Chelsea. They had been off the tempo at Stamford Bridge.

Several misplaced passes within the build-up section and so they misplaced the duel battle to Chelsea. They misplaced two-thirds of their first 24 duels within the opening quarter of the sport, whereas they solely gained one of many first 10 aerial duels.

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There had been a number of elements behind it. Chelsea performed nicely – having had an additional day to arrange after their midweek European motion – whereas the absences of William Saliba and Gabriel filtered all through the crew to create an unconvincing show.

It has additionally been a busy schedule. “It’s been a big week,” stated Mikel Arteta after overcoming the triple header of Spurs, Bayern Munich and the Blues final week. So is it time for the Arsenal supervisor to rotate?

Wednesday evening’s go to of Brentford could also be a very good alternative to offer minutes to those that want it, however extra crucially relaxation those that have been referred to as upon lots.

For instance, Ben White might are available in for Jurrien Timber. The likes of Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres are aiming for first begins after harm. Even Christian Norgaard, in opposition to his former membership, and Ethan Nwaneri may very well be referred to as upon.

Brentford’s file in opposition to the larger sides makes them a good check so there can’t be wholesale adjustments. But one factor the Bees are good at is successful duels by way of first and second balls. Arsenal will want contemporary legs greater than on-pitch high quality.
Sam Blitz

Undervalued Gomez lastly offers Reds an air of defensive stability

Liverpool vs Sunderland – Wednesday, kick-off 8.15pm

It can not simply be a coincidence that Liverpool saved their first Premier League clear sheet since they beat Aston Villa a month in the past – and solely their third all season within the high flight – of their much-needed win at West Ham United on Sunday in a sport that additionally noticed Joe Gomez make his first league begin in nearly a yr, by the way additionally in a victory on the London Stadium.

Despite a sequence of calamitous latest defensive shows, together with a 3-0 loss to struggling Nottingham Forest, adopted by a 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven – each at Anfield – within the lead-up to the sport, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot had been stubbornly resisting calls to start out Gomez, who has been carrying a slight knee niggle of late.

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But the versatile 28-year-old returned on the right-hand aspect of the champions’ defence in east London, with the Reds instantly wanting extra assured on the again, with no visiting participant making extra interceptions, whereas he additionally created their second aim for Coady Gakpo.

Fitness allowing, anticipate Liverpool’s long-serving participant to nonetheless be within the hosts’ beginning line-up when high-flying Sunderland go to Anfield.

Richard Morgan

Palace’s massive likelihood downside shackling them greater than squad depth points

Burnley vs Crystal Palace – Wednesday, kick-off 7.30pm

Only two Premier League groups have missed greater than 25 massive probabilities this season – Crystal Palace are one in all them.

With 26, Palace have a serious downside with changing the large alternatives they’re managing to create.

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Oliver Glasner bemoaned his aspect’s lack of enterprise, calling for some stage of sympathy as his aspect drained of their defeat to Manchester United. However, of their ascendancy, Palace didn’t capitalise on a rampant first half, which may very well be costing them greater than their squad depth.

Jean-Philippe Mateta, who took his tally of huge probabilities missed as much as 12 in opposition to United, is just behind Erling Haaland for large probabilities spurned.

Creativity was the principle concern for Palace when Eberechi Eze moved on to pastures new in the summertime. However, creating is not what’s holding Palace again; it is their incapability to attain.

Burnley will present the sternest check of Palace’s skill to search out the again of the web. Scott Parker’s Clarets have the league’s highest anticipated objectives in opposition to with 28.79, which means – on paper – there will probably be ample alternative to exorcise their big-chance demons.
William Bitibiri

Can Wolves keep away from undesirable information in opposition to Forest?

Wolves vs Nottingham Forest – Wednesday, kick-off 7.30pm

Wolves are in hassle. As we enter the ultimate month of the yr, they continue to be winless. It’s a dismal begin that has seen their foreheads pressed in opposition to the barrel of a relegation to the Championship.

Defeat at Forest would imply that they’ve misplaced seven straight matches within the high flight.

The final time the membership fell to that many defeats was in the course of the 2011/12 season, throughout Terry Connor’s notorious reign, which was an all-time low in a relegation season.

The information are prone to compound if fortunes fail to show at Molineux. Wolves are heading in the right direction to lose 32 matches this season.

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Derby County in 2007/08, statistically the Premier League’s worst crew, had six factors recorded by this level whereas Wolves have two. They are on monitor to take Derby’s crown.

Only as soon as has a crew recorded lass than two factors at this stage in Premier League historical past and that was Sheffield Wednesday, who had one and had been in the end relegated. While the possibilities of a Wolves survival stay slim, followers will hope to retain some semblance of respectability beginning with Forest on Wednesday.
William Bitibiri

Will the purple mist come down for Chelsea once more at Leeds?

Leeds vs Chelsea – Wednesday, kick-off 8.15pm

This is a fixture filled with historical past – and loads of thumping tackles and depth. The 1970 FA Cup last replay was probably the most fearsome of all however anticipate one other boiling sizzling ambiance at Elland Road when the edges meet once more on Wednesday.

Can Enzo Maresca’s aspect preserve their heads within the strain cooker?

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Moises Caicedo’s purple card in opposition to Arsenal on Sunday was simply the most recent in a sequence of sendings off for the Blues. “He was really pumped up”, stated Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, suggesting the event had obtained to Caicedo.

The midfielder will probably be suspended for the Leeds journey however ill-discipline is changing into a theme for this Chelsea crew. There have been six purple playing cards proven to Chelsea gamers this season. Their 4 within the Premier League is twice as many as another aspect.

Even Maresca has served a suspension after being despatched to the stands for his jubilant celebrations of Estevao’s last-gasp winner in opposition to Liverpool.

It’s a priority which actually got here into focus on the again finish of final season, when Nicolas Jackson noticed purple at Newcastle, Chelsea had been crushed, and the race for a Champions League place was went proper all the way down to the wire.

Against Arsenal, Chelsea battled valiantly with 10 gamers. A degree gained? Or was it two dropped, given how they’d began the derby with 11?

There’s lots to love concerning the crew Maresca has constructed at Chelsea – however they are often their very own worst enemy and should preserve the main target to take care of their optimistic begin to the season at Leeds.
Peter Smith

Villa to check Brighton’s unbeaten file

Brighton vs Aston Villa – Wednesday, kick-off 7.30pm

Brighton’s unbeaten house file faces its hardest check but with the go to of in-form Aston Villa.

Both sides began the marketing campaign slowly, incomes only one win between them from their opening 5 video games, however now they’re firmly within the race for European soccer.

Villa recorded their fifth clear sheet of the season on Sunday and have the second-best defensive file within the division, though on the different finish of the pitch, they are not having a lot pleasure.

They’re second backside for xG whereas Ollie Watkins has scored simply as soon as and was dropped for the victory at Wolves, with Donyell Malen most popular. The fast turnaround might even see Watkins reintroduced from the beginning.

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There’s been no such points for Brighton striker Danny Welbeck, who has solely been getting higher at 35. His seven objectives, mixed with the efforts of Yankuba Minteh, have powered Fabian Hurzeler’s aspect up the desk.

The winger has the second-most assists and touches within the opposition field within the league, with solely Jeremy Doku and Mohammed Kudus having accomplished extra dribbles. Villa’s defence should be at its greatest.
David Richardson

Time for Amorim to roll the cube on Mainoo?

Man Utd vs West Ham – Thursday, kick-off 8pm

Manchester United could have picked up an important away win at Selhurst Park on Sunday, however Old Trafford will probably be anticipating much more come Thursday evening.

The embarrassment that was the defeat to 10-man Everton will nonetheless be on the forefront of the minds of the followers and Ruben Amorim.

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The efficiency and the best way Everton saved out a limp Red Devils supplies Nuno Espirito Santo with the blueprint for methods to get a end result. That means there needs to be a marked change from the hosts, even perhaps in personnel.

United are anticipated to dominate the ball in opposition to the crew who’ve had much less possession in all however two of their away Premier League video games this time period. The anomalies being in opposition to promoted sides.

Amorim will want gamers on the pitch who can break down the Hammers. That could current a possibility to Kobbie Mainoo.

The 20-year-old has solely been afforded 171 minutes within the Premier League this season. It is a far cry from the function he had on the time of scoring the successful aim within the 2024 FA Cup last.

However, United have persistently struggled with breaking down low blocks and Amorim will not change his system.

If his stubbornness on the entrance goes to persist, the cube must be rolled a technique or one other.

There is a query as as to whether the defensive presence of Casemiro is as important for this sport in comparison with in opposition to the likes of Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Newcastle later this month.

Keeping the Brazilian contemporary for these should be a precedence, so the door could open for Mainoo to make his first league begin of the season and present as soon as and for all he’s deserving of extra from Amorim heading into 2026.