Premier League talking points ahead of the weekend | OneFootball

Premier League talking points ahead of the weekend action, featuring Ruben Amorim, Mohamed Salah, and a strange reunion.

Leeds lock in for another six-pointer

Last weekend felt like a missed opportunity for Leeds United. Three points above the relegation places, a trip to Burnley looked like an ideal chance to pull clear. Instead, Daniel Farke’s side fell to a 2-0 defeat, allowing their fellow strugglers to climb within a point of them. Every point is crucial, but clashes with those also at the bottom hold added importance.

On Friday night, Leeds host a West Ham side currently mired in the bottom three. It’s another chance, in front of a raucous home crowd, to put daylight between them and the drop zone.

Question marks remain over their firepower, but a West Ham side with the league’s worst defensive record (18 conceded) have been accommodating opposition so far this season.

Guiu faces former club in strange reunion

Marc Guiu faces former club Sunderland this weekend after the shortest of stints in the North East.

Signed on loan in the summer as he sought the regular football needed for his development, he was recalled by Chelsea after 13 minutes of Premier League football and a solitary League Cup goal. Liam Delap’s injury saw Chelsea cancel Guiu’s loan in the same window he signed for Sunderland, in a frustrating situation for all involved.

Since returning to West London, the 19-year-old has featured sporadically, but a goal in midweek might earn him a start this weekend.

Guiu, briefly, became Chelsea’s youngest Champions League goalscorer against Ajax on Wednesday night before both Estevao Willian and Tyrique George eclipsed him before the evening was done. The kids are alright.

Amorim can’t afford another false dawn

Ruben Amorim earned the biggest win of his Manchester United tenure last weekend, as the Red Devils ended an almost decade-long wait for victory at Anfield.

There were positives aplenty for Amorim’s side at Liverpool, with Matheus Cunha exceptional and Bryan Mbeumo on target inside two minutes. The summer signings have improved the threat of his side, and there were flickers that the squad were becoming more accustomed to his much discussed formation.

United are just two points from the Champions League places, despite facing Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool in their opening eight. The onus now will be to secure wins when expected to do so, starting this weekend when Brighton – an awkward opponent in recent years – visit Old Trafford.

Salah deserves grace despite slow start

Mohamed Salah this week removed all Liverpool content from his profile pictures, bio, and headers on social media, in a response to criticism he has faced for his performances this season.

It followed the Egyptian appearing to apologise to the supporters following his substitute appearance at Eintracht Frankfurt. It’s a staggering situation given the highs of last season, when Salah reigned as the Premier League’s finest footballer in a title-winning campaign.

He’s enduring a difficult moment right now, having failed to score from open play in his last seven Premier League appearances, but even a player who has performed with such robotic consistency can endure a downturn.

The fear, for some, is that Salah is on the decline, but it would be dramatic to suggest a player who had no peer last season could regress so rapidly, even after turning 33 in the summer.

Salah, like the rest of the group at Liverpool, is dealing with mass change in the dressing room and the tragic loss of Diogo Jota in the summer. The very least he deserves is a grace period to find his way back to form.

Can Palace break resistance of immoveable Arsenal?

“Thou shalt not pass” has been the message from Arsenal this season. A dozen games into the new campaign and the Gunners have conceded just once from open play. Even that goal came via Erling Haaland, a man who no team appears capable of stopping right now.

Next up is a London Derby against Crystal Palace, who make the trip from south to north in the capital on Sunday afternoon. An expectant Emirates will demand three points, but Palace will prove tricky opposition.

Though Oliver Glasner’s side slipped to a shock defeat to AEK Larnaca on Thursday, the Eagles have been impressive in the Premier League. In fact, Palace are the Premier League leaders when it comes to xG created in 2025/26. Regardless of your opinion on that data, it shows Palace can create plenty.

Villa Park offers acid test for new-look City

There’s a different feel to Manchester City this season, with Pep Guardiola’s side appearing more direct and efficient than the fluidity we’ve become used to. So far, in large part thanks to Erling Haaland, it’s working.

City racked up a fifth win in six games against Villarreal in midweek, with Haaland on target for the 12th consecutive game. The Citizens have climbed up to second in the Premier League, but face an acid test this weekend.

Aston Villa have recovered from a shaky start to win their last three, and are unbeaten in their last three meetings with City on home soil. Indeed, their form in the Midlands is exceptional. Villa have only lost one of their last 22 Premier League games at Villa Park, winning 13 and drawing eight.

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