Maguire, Sanchez Flores and home comforts among key weekend talking points

The Premier League returns this weekend for gameweek five of the 2019/20 campaign and there are plenty of talking points surrounding the upcoming fixtures.

Will depleted Newcastle be a free hit for league leaders?

This fixture has been an absolute classic over the Premier League era but gone are the days since the two clubs were jostling for position in the league. However, while Newcastle can take some positives from their modest four-point haul so far, injuries heading into their trip to Anfield should mean that this is a straightforward outing for the hosts. Could Jurgen Klopp be tempted to rotate ahead of a Champions League clash with Napoli?

Can new look Brighton break down Burnley?

While buoyed by a convincing 4-0 win over the Seagulls ahead of the international break, Pep Guardiola was full of praise for the endeavour Brighton showed at the Etihad. Graham Potter has already stamped a very different style of play on the side, with far greater onus on keeping possession. They should see the lions share against Burnley, having not beaten the Clarets in four previous Premier League attempts - scoring just one set piece goal in that time. The hosts will be confident this latest meeting goes differently.

Leicester hoping to prove Maguire wrong

All eyes will be on Harry Maguire as he makes his first appearance against former club Leicester following a record breaking transfer to Manchester United. The Foxes will be keen to make it clear to their former defender that they are more than capable of competing with his big spending employers. Given the injuries that are mounting up against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men it could be a long afternoon for the England international.

A long day for Saints full-backs

In his side’s last two league matches Ralph Hasenhuttl has deployed a 4-2-2-2 formation similar to that used by Watford last season, and to good effect, picking up four points. However, the Austrian will surely be considering playing with more width up against a Sheffield United side that focus that vast majority of their attacking play down the flanks. Only Norwich have looked to attack through the middle of the pitch less often this season, and if Saints’ midfielders don’t help protect their full-backs the likes of Cedric Soares and Ryan Bertrand will be in for a tough match.

Tottenham aiming to turn capital city tables

With a tally of five points places them in ninth place, Spurs currently find themselves behind three London rivals. Are the top of that particular capital city table is Crystal Palace, who, unlike their hosts, are one of only five teams to have won back-to-back matches this season. The focus may well be on Wilfried Zaha up against a reported long-term admirer in Tottenham, but it’s Jordan Ayew that has impressed most for the Eagles this season, and perhaps more so than he did over the entirety of the previous campaign.

Wolves to rely on home comforts against another big hitter

In a season that to now has been somewhat hampered by their involvement in European qualification, Wolves will hope that a run of home fixtures will hope them settle into the campaign. Saturday’s meeting with Chelsea will be the third of eight home games Nuno’s side will play in a run of ten games ending at the end of the month, and they’ve overcome better sides at Molineux. Indeed, Wolves are unbeaten in 16 home games in all competitions - a streak which began with an FA Cup victory against Liverpool way back in early January.

Will Norwich learn lessons from Liverpool loss?

There have been a number of positives from Norwich’s start to the season but their defensive record isn’t one of them. The Canaries have conceded more goals than any other side (10) and a meeting with Champions Manchester City hasn’t come at a good time - although it never does in truth. Daniel Farke could be without as many as three centre-backs this weekend, and while the German always encourages his side to attack, the way they shipped goals on the opening day against Liverpool in particular should serve as a warning come Saturday.

Everton must play to the whistle against plucky Cherries

Across eight Premier League meetings between these two sides there have been a total of 31 goals. Home advantage has always been important in that time, with not single away win from said encounters and at the Vitality Stadium in particular, Everton will be keen to learn lessons from meetings gone by. The Cherries have scored seven of their eight goals at home against the Merseysiders in or after the 75th minute, twice coming from two goals down to draw and once grabbing an 88th minute winner.

A second chance for Sanchez Flores

Accustomed to their side starting fast and ending slowly in seasons gone by, the Watford board took no time in axing Javi Gracia after one point from four matches. Their choice of replacement has been met with disbelief in some parts, with the man tasked with making the club a force upon their top-flight return in Quique Sanchez Flores reappointed three years after getting the boot. Once considered one of the bright young minds in coaching, the Spaniard’s win ratio has fallen at each of his previous six clubs. He left his last post in China with Shanghai Shenhua two points from the foot of the table after 15 matches so you can forgive Hornets fans for feeling underwhelmed.

West Ham front line taking shape

After a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Manchester City and an underwhelming performance at Brighton, West Ham fans are starting to get excited. Quite right too, with the likes of Andriy Yarmolenko, Felipe Anderson and Sebastien Haller returning to fitness in fine form. The acquisition of the latter has already elevated the side to another level and it’s higher than that of claret and blue counterparts Aston Villa. Monday night’s host must recreate the atmosphere under the lights that helped them past Everton but more importantly improve on what was a step backwards against Crystal Palace.