Premier League: Seven things to look out for this weekend

A look ahead to another weekend of Premier League action

Will it be another win for Chelsea this weekend or can Everton get one over on the Blues? (Getty)

Alvaro Negredo returns to the Etihad

The Spaniard, on loan from Valencia, will be desperate to get one over his old employers. He managed nine goals in 32 league appearances during his only season at Manchester City and although his former club have moved on, Negredo will probably wish he had been given longer to prove himself. Five of Middlesbrough's players that memorably upset the current Premier League leaders in the FA Cup two seasons ago could feature on Saturday, and while the home side will be expected to take all three points, Aitor Karanka’s side will certainly not be intimidated, especially if their recent 0-0 draw at Arsenal is anything to go by.

Arsenal and Tottenham prepare for blockbuster

A derby that has historically been known for producing high-scoring affairs has taken on a new significance in the last year, with both teams now believing that they are in the title hunt. Mauricio Pochettino’s men are currently at a low ebb following six games without a win and have a number of injury concerns for key players, with Mousa Dembélé, Erik Lamela and Toby Alderweireld currently doubts for Sunday’s clash (although the good news for Spurs is that Harry Kane will return to the matchday squad).

Arsenal are highly fancied to win and may welcome back Santi Cazorla from an Achilles injury sustained in the first of two Champions League games against Ludogorets, but are otherwise expected to have an unchanged squad. However, it has regularly been the case in this fixture that the favourite has not taken home the three points.

Southampton set to prolong Hull woes

Claude Puel’s men are currently on cloud nine after defeating Inter Milan 2-1 in the Europa League and after a poor start in the league, they have hauled themselves into the top half of the table. Hull meanwhile are on a slippery slope after their sixth straight league defeat, against Watford last Saturday. Despite progressing against Bristol City last week they do look like a team low on confidence and options from the bench. This fixture has also not been kind to the Tigers, with six straight defeats against the Saints, scoring just two goals in that time. Don’t expect fireworks on Bonfire Night.


 Southampton fought back from 1-0 down to overcome the Italian giants on Thursday night 
 (Getty)

Romelu Lukaku keen to give Chelsea the Blues

Roberto Martinez’s time at Goodison ended disappointingly, but he can at least point to the fact that his Everton side defeated Chelsea twice last season. Romelu Lukaku was instrumental in one of those victories, netting a brace as the Toffees knocked their opponents out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage.

The Belgian has been in superb form at the start of this campaign after his scoring rate waned during the second half of last season. After leaving Chelsea for Everton in 2014, the forward will be determined to show his former club what a foolish decision it was to let him go.


 Romelu Lukaku will be looking to get one over his former club 
 (Getty)

Swansea looking to make it three in a row

Bob Bradley is yet to oversee a win as boss of his new club, but Sunday’s clash against United may be the best opportunity to break that duck. The South Wales outfit have won their previous two home matches against Manchester United, with both victories involving comebacks. They also managed to secure a shock opening-day win at Old Trafford in August 2014 in what was Louis van Gaal’s opening match in charge. José Mourinho has failed to inspire his team to greater heights and Thursday’s 2-1 reverse against Fenerbahçe was his 18th defeat in his last 42 games as a manager.

Expect goals galore at the King Power

At first glance, West Brom vs Leicester might seem like an underwhelming fixture. However, the last three meetings between these sides have produced 14 goals, with Tony Pulis’ men having taken the lead on all three occasions, only to squander their advantage every time. Both sides have made indifferent starts to their league campaigns, but after the home side’s draining 1-1 draw against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday night, do West Brom have the upper hand heading into Sunday's clash?

Leicester were held to a 0-0 draw in Copenhagen on Wednesday night (Getty)

Liverpool need to cement title credentials

Jürgen Klopp may have turned Liverpool into a force to be reckoned with, but at the weekend he faces a side responsible for arguably the worst result of his tenure so far. Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney ran the centre-back pairing of Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho ragged as the Reds were put to the sword last December at Vicarage Road, securing a fourth straight win for the newly-promoted Hornets in the process.

Liverpool’s defence is still an area of concern and although they have the firepower to trouble any team in the division, they cannot repeatedly rely on their attacking players to bail them out. Watford have made an encouraging start to life under new boss Walter Mazzarri and are currently residing in the top half. Unbeaten in October, they will be confident of extending that encouraging run to five games.