The current pause in domestic leagues is nearing its conclusion, paving the way for the Premier League’s resumption this weekend. The anticipated showdown between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield is set to dominate headlines.
Each of the 20 participating clubs in England’s premier division has completed seven matches thus far. The Premier League standings are starting to suggest both a tight contest for the championship and a struggle against relegation, with newly promoted teams — Burnley, Leeds United and Sunderland — expressing legitimate ambitions to secure their place in the league.
Simultaneously, pressure is mounting on managers such as Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou, while significant acquisitions like Florian Wirtz and Matheus Cunha are yet to demonstrate their full potential at their respective clubs. On a brighter note, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace are exhibiting potential that could lead them to contention for UEFA Champions League spots.
With four Premier League game weeks scheduled before the November break for international matches, which prominent issues are likely to intensify in the coming month?
– Strategies to revitalise Man Utd inspired by Liverpool, Arsenal, City
– Examining Liverpool’s shortcomings: Transfers? Salah? Schedule?
– Bold kit designs anticipated for the 2025-26 season
Can Amorim and Ange survive until November?
Ruben Amorim recently received reassurance from Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who affirmed that Amorim’s performance as manager should be evaluated after a three-year tenure. Despite this support, Amorim’s statistics position him as the least effective United manager in the Premier League era.
Manchester United has not achieved consecutive league victories since Amorim’s arrival in November 2024, and their last away win was against Leicester City in March, a team that was subsequently relegated. This season, United’s wins have been against newly promoted teams and a Chelsea team playing with 10 players for most of their match. The upcoming game against Liverpool will be a significant test for Amorim and his squad. While Ratcliffe’s comments are supportive, it’s important to remember that he praised Erik ten Hag shortly before his dismissal last season.
Despite Amorim’s challenges, Ange Postecoglou of Nottingham Forest is currently under more duress, facing considerable pressure after a seven-game winless streak. Postecoglou was chosen by Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis to succeed Nuno Espirito Santo. However, Forest’s performance has declined under Postecoglou, leading to fan discontent. Given Marinakis’ history of decisive actions, Postecoglou’s position is increasingly precarious.
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Nicol: Mo Salah is lacking in confidence
Steve Nicol suggests that Mo Salah might be experiencing a dip in confidence this season, evident in his performance against Chelsea.
Is Salah declining?
Mohamed Salah ranks fourth in Premier League all-time goal scorers. He needs 12 more goals to join Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, and Harry Kane as the only players to exceed 200 goals. However, there are questions whether Salah will achieve this milestone this season, with some suggesting he may be past his peak.
Since the start of February, Salah has scored 14 goals for Liverpool across all competitions, with six from penalties. This season, he has two goals and two assists in seven league games.
With the Africa Cup of Nations approaching in December, Salah may be absent from Liverpool for six weeks. Furthermore, new signings Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike are poised to challenge his role as Liverpool’s primary goal scorer.
Considering Salah’s age, international commitments with Egypt, who have qualified for the next FIFA World Cup, this season could be challenging. His Anfield future may depend on maintaining his performance level. However, his next game is against Manchester United, a team against whom he has scored 16 goals, offering an opportunity to reverse his recent form.
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Nagelsmann backs Wirtz for Liverpool success
Julian Nagelsmann, Germany’s head coach, anticipates that Florian Wirtz will thrive at Liverpool following his high-profile transfer from Bayer Leverkusen this summer.
Time for new signings to shine
New players often need time to adjust to their new teams. While some adapt faster than others, expectations eventually rise for significant signings to make an impact. This is especially true for players like Florian Wirtz, Matheus Cunha, Alexander Isak, and Eberechi Eze, who have had over two months to integrate into their Premier League teams.
Wirtz faces the most pressure, having had minimal impact for Liverpool since his £116 million transfer from Bayer Leverkusen. He has not scored or assisted in seven league games, struggling with the intensity of English football.
Liverpool’s Isak, a £130 million signing from Newcastle United, has one assist in three Premier League games, still catching up after missing preseason due to transfer negotiations. While Wirtz and Isak are long-term investments, they need to show more immediate results.
Cunha was brought to Manchester United to improve their attack, but the £62.5 million signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers has yet to score or assist in six appearances. With Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko already scoring for United, Cunha needs to improve. Eze of Arsenal has two assists in six games since his £67.5 million move from Crystal Palace. Despite a strong record at Palace, where he contributed significantly to their FA Cup win, Eze is still settling in at Arsenal.
Can Bournemouth and Palace challenge at the top?
Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, led by respected coaches Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner, have sparked hopes of a top-four finish. Iraola’s Bournemouth is two points behind league leaders Arsenal, with Palace a further two points behind after their first defeat to Everton.
The question is whether they can maintain their early form and retain their sought-after coaches. Their match at Selhurst Park features players who have started the season strongly. Antoine Semenyo has six goals and three assists for Bournemouth, while Adrien Truffert has effectively replaced Milos Kerkez. Palace’s Adam Wharton, Marc Guéhi, Daniel Muñoz, Daichi Kamada, and Jean-Philippe Mateta have all built on last season’s performances.
Palace may have the depth to sustain a top-four challenge, but Bournemouth also possess significant quality.
Are Wolves already facing relegation?
Wolves’ situation looks precarious under Vitor Pereira, as they sit at the bottom of the table without a win. They have two points from seven games, slightly better than last season, offering some hope for improvement.
However, with key players Cunha and Rayan Aït-Nouri departing for Manchester United and Manchester City, respectively, Wolves face a tougher challenge.
Sheffield United hold the record for the longest wait for a first Premier League win, going 17 games in 2020-21 before being relegated. Wolves waited until their 11th game for a win last season but avoided relegation.
Their next two games against Sunderland and Burnley are critical for turning their season around and securing much-needed points.
