Ten KEY questions for the weekend's matches

Football writer Alex Keble analyses where this weekend's fixtures could be won and lost, including:

- Spurs potentially opening up the title race?
- Chelsea starting a journey that could see them top at Christmas?
- If Dyche's football will stump Liverpool?
- Howe overcoming historical issues to revive Newcastle's season?
- If Man Utd can launch another winning streak?
- Fulham looking over their shoulders by the end of the weekend?
- Brighton v Brentford being the start of the separation of the table? 
- If Rob Edwards can get the winning start he needs?
- Can Villa improve in the final third?
- If the international break came at a right time for Bournemouth?

Spurs potentially opening up the title race?

Until Arsenal end their two-decade wait for a Premier League title, doubts will linger and the prospect of a wobble will never be too far away, no matter how well they are playing.

The 2-2 draw with Sunderland prior to the international break was a perfectly reasonable result that ought not to change perceptions of Mikel Arteta’s side.

However, the timing was unfortunate, because immediately after Regis Le Bris discovered a possible flaw – two goals from long punts into the box and second-balls won – Arsenal face Tottenham Hotspur at home, followed by Chelsea away.

Thomas Frank is an adaptable tactician who will no doubt have studied Sunderland’s methods in the hope of replicating them. As he showed as Brentford head coach – and, notably, in Spurs’ 2-0 win at Manchester City back in August – he can mastermind a direct, defensive, counter-attacking performance away from home.

Spurs are the only side still unbeaten away from home (W4, D1), boasting the joint-most points, the joint-most goals and the fewest goals conceded.

Spurs' league away record, 25/26

On the other hand, should Arsenal get three points in such a highly-pressurised north London derby, it would provide an enormous psychological lift, reassert their position at the top and make sure the draw at Sunderland was as unremarkable as it felt at the time.

Chelsea starting a journey that could see them top at Christmas?

All of the statistics point to a Chelsea win at Turf Moor.

Burnley have conceded two or more goals in five of their last six Premier League matches and across the season, Scott Parker’s side have had the fewest shots, lowest Expected Goals (xG) figure, lowest possession, faced the most shots and have the highest Expected Goals Against (xGA).

Burnley's season statistics, 25/26

Chelsea, meanwhile, are on the up, winning four of their last five in the league, including each of their last two away from home.

Enzo Maresca’s side ought to get the job done, in the process beginning a journey that, as implausible as it might sound to some, could see Chelsea go top of the table at Christmas.

The gap to Arsenal is currently six points, but if Spurs take something from Emirates Stadium on Sunday, it could be cut to three or four before Chelsea host Arteta’s side next weekend.

Over the following fortnight, Arsenal have to play at Villa Park, while Chelsea’s toughest game is away at AFC Bournemouth, who appear to be on the slide.

The fixture list is about to hand Chelsea an exciting opportunity. But in order to capitalise, they need to make sure they make light work of Burnley.

If Dyche's football will stump Liverpool?

Following the 3-0 defeat at Man City, Liverpool cannot afford to lose yet more ground in the title race. They are eight points behind Arsenal and falling fast; to drop points against a relegation candidate, and at Anfield too, would be disastrous.

And yet it could easily happen. This one looks like another difficult game for Arne Slot.

It is now common knowledge that long balls, aerial challenges, speed to the second ball and fast attacks down Liverpool’s right flank cause the champions all sorts of problems. Sean Dyche’s side will be more than happy to target these flaws.

Callum Hudson-Odoi, returning from injury, should threaten behind Mohamed Salah, especially if the long balls upfield see Chris Wood beat Ibrahima Konate in the air and the second balls drop to Elliot Anderson.

Where teams attack v Liverpool

That it is so easy to visualise the tactical battle speaks volumes. Liverpool have been consistently vulnerable to teams in precisely the mould of Dyche’s Nottingham Forest.

Howe overcoming historical issues to revive Newcastle's season?

Following an international break that was supposed to be a chance to reset, Newcastle United could hardly have been given a more difficult match.

Newcastle have lost their last two Premier League games and haven’t lost three in a row since January 2024, almost two years ago. They are 14th in the table, just two points above the bottom three, and in danger of getting cut off from the race for UEFA Champions League football.

None of that is good preparation for facing Pep Guardiola’s side, especially given that Newcastle have won just one of their last 35 Premier League meetings with Man City (D6 L28).

Nevertheless, Eddie Howe needs to see this game as an opportunity.

St James' Park always creates an intimidating atmosphere for games of this magnitude and the Newcastle players need to channel that energy into a major performance; into the sort of result that could kickstart their season.

History tells us Man City will win, compound Newcastle’s misery and put pressure on Arsenal at the top. It’s up to Howe to show that Newcastle made good use of the international break.

If Man Utd can launch another winning streak?

Some of the momentum has been lost over the last few weeks after Manchester United drew back-to-back Premier League matches 2-2, although Ruben Amorim’s side are nevertheless on a five-match unbeaten run in the competition – and have won their last four Premier League home games.

Better still for United, who are just one point outside the top four, their next four games reads: Everton (H), Crystal Palace (A), West Ham United (H) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (A), four very winnable matches.

Monday’s fixture is a huge opportunity, then, for Amorim’s side to begin a sequence of victories that would take them up to the hectic festive period - and show they are very much in the running for a Champions League qualification.

Everton have won just one away game so far this season and appear to be sliding back down the table after a strong start. The stars are aligning for United to show, beyond doubt, that Amorim is on the road to recovery.

Fulham looking over their shoulders by the end of the weekend?

Marco Silva has reportedly been offered a new contract this week but all is not well at Fulham, or at least that’s the impression left by a league table that has them looking over their shoulders.

Fears of relegation will undoubtedly mount if Fulham lose this weekend and though unlikely, Silva’s side could even fall into the bottom three in defeat.

Fulham have only won three Premier League matches this season and all three were against struggling teams at home: Brentford, Leeds United, and Wolves.

If they can only beat the relegation candidates on home soil, and nobody else, then they will struggle to get towards 40 points.

Sunderland are formidable opponents, having won three of their five away games in the Premier League already this season, although Regis Le Bris’ side have now drawn their last two.

A win at Craven Cottage would be significant, ensuring Sunderland stay in the top four ahead of a trickier set of games: they face Bournemouth, Liverpool, and Man City in their next three.

But a fast start means there is no pressure on the Black Cats. The same cannot be said of Fulham. Nerves will increase substantially if they lose again on Saturday.

Brighton v Brentford being the start of the separation of the table? 

The Premier League table is unusually compressed after 11 matches: just four points separates fourth from 13th.

If the table is going to split into distinct sections then it seems most likely to occur between Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, two sides currently locked on 16 points in 11th and 12th respectively, the former beginning the campaign with hopes of Europa League qualification and the latter merely wishing to avoid a relegation battle.

Below Brentford are teams one might expect to be in the bottom half (Newcastle aside), and above Brighton are those who were always the bookies’ favourites to occupy the European spots.

Brighton are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League matches at Amex Stadium, and since the start of last season have lost fewer home games (three) than anyone aside from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Liverpool (all two).

Meanwhile Brentford have lost four of their five away fixtures in the Premier League this season.

The split could start this weekend.

If Rob Edwards can get the winning start he needs?

Rob Edwards has a mountain to climb. No Premier League team has ever prevented relegation after earning just two points from the opening 11 matches of a season.

It goes without saying he simply has to get off to a winning start but Palace are thorny opponents who might just catch Wolves in transition.

Playing in a 3-4-2-1 formation, Edwards' teams tend to want to press high and hard, but as Luton Town head coach he was forced into a more conservative set-up.

For his debut, there is a good chance Edwards will be proactive in his approach and encourage Wolves to be as adventurous as his Middlesbrough team, which opens up the possibility of Oliver Glasner’s rapid counter-attacks exposing the league’s leakiest defence.

But Edwards is savvy, and happy to adapt his tactics depending on the opposition.

However Wolves line up, however Edwards chooses to play, his new team simply have to win.

Can Villa improve in the final third?

Aston Villa have won eight of their last 10 matches in all competitions and are only two points off third, indicating that Unai Emery’s side have fully recovered from their early wobbles and are now back to their best.

But the underlying numbers say something else. Defensively Villa are looking good, and their possession has become a lot more fluid since Pau Torres came back into the team, but goalscoring remains a serious issue.

Only Burnley have a lower xG tally than Villa’s 9.36 this season. Seven of their 13 goals, or 54 per cent, have been scored from outside the penalty area, including the crucial first two in the 4-0 victory over Bournemouth a fortnight ago.

Villa cannot continue to rely on spectacular goals, nor can they maintain a push for Champions League football if Ollie Watkins – with one Premier League goal in 11 matches – does not pick up soon; Emery’s side are also bottom of the charts for big chance conversion, with 20 per cent (3/15).

Sunday’s encounter could be their chance to set that right. Leeds have lost four of their last five Premier League matches and conceded three times in each of their last two, against Forest and Brighton.

If the international break came at a right time for Bournemouth?

The break came at a good time for Bournemouth, who lost back-to-back Premier League games and appeared tired in each.

Fears that they are regressing the mean could intensify if the fortnight off has not seen energy levels restored.

It certainly feels like an unfortunate time to be playing West Ham, who have won two consecutive Premier League games under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Nuno’s reactive counter-attacking football feels perfect, too, to frustrate Bournemouth and catch them on the break, or at least it will be if Andoni Iraola’s side look as drained as they did in defeats to Man City and Villa.

But trips to the Etihad Stadium and Villa Park are notoriously difficult.

Perhaps the Cherries will be improved on home soil, where they have won four out of five Premier League matches this season.