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10 things to look out for in the Premier League this weekend
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The Premier League returns after the temporary break of the FA Cup, and as per usual there are a number of side-plots and interesting questions to explore ahead of the weekend.
Manchester United’s game against Liverpool may be the obvious highlight of the fixture list, but there are sure to be moments worth remembering elsewhere.
Sportsmail has considered the 10 things to look out for in the English top flight on Saturday and Sunday.
How will Leicester fans treat N’Golo Kante on his return?
Claudio Ranieri called him a ‘champion’ and demanded respect, but it will be hard for Leicester supporters to not look on with envy when Kante returns to the King Power. It’s now fair to say Kante was the most important player in Leicester’s title-winning side. He was also the only one to push for an exit.
The midfielder has spent most of the last 18 months on top of the Premier League. Chelsea have been the beneficiaries, but former fans of Kante will certainly be hoping to strike a blow to his hopes of a second winner’s medal on Saturday.
Will Paul Clement emerge victorious on his Premier League bow?
Swansea are in trouble - that much is clear. They began the season in terrible form, sacked a manager, continued in terrible form, sacked that manager’s replacement, and have hired a third coach without any experience in charge of a top-flight side.
But there are reasons to be hopeful. Clement is a highly-regarded coach who has spent years learning from Carlo Ancelotti, one of the best in the game. The level has also been so low that Clement does not have to do much to surpass his predecessors. Arsenal, who tend to struggle at the Liberty, will be trying to stop him.
How will Big Sam handle his West Ham return amid Dimitri Payet drama?
It’s fair to say that Sam Allardyce did not have the fondest relationship with West Ham’s supporters. He came in, won promotion in his first season and re-established the Hammers as a mid-table Premier League side, but did not develop any sort of affinity with them on the back of that.
He faces them on Saturday with Crystal Palace, Allardyce’s first visit to their new London Stadium. But he comes at a time of turmoil. Dimitri Payet is on strike as he looks to leave West Ham in January. It sounds like a perfect opportunity for Allardyce to get one over his old side.
Watford began last season well under Quique Sanchez Flores, surprising everyone by putting themselves in a position by which a relegation battle was always unlikely. But form dropped off and Flores was dismissed at the end of the season despite keeping Watford up.
Mazzarri, on the other hand, started the campaign well, surprising everyone, but form has dropped off. They have not won in five in the league. The Italian can look at Flores’ example and know that the Vicarage Road hierarchy will not be happy with this drop. A game against Middlesbrough is as good a time as any to turn it around.
Can Tottenham alter their form against West Brom?
West Brom’s eighth place in the Premier League table is one of the shocks of the season so far after years and years of safety without pushing on. But the Baggies have always had a slightly strange edge when it comes to Tottenham Hotspur.
The record speaks for itself. Spurs have only won one of their last seven against Tony Pulis’ side and all three of their last matches have ended 1-1. Tottenham’s title push last season faltered with the draw on April 25. Can Pulis take another result from a team he seems to have a hex on?
Can Sunderland’s wanted men keep firing while being watched?
This is usually the point at which Sunderland begin to turn it around. But this year it looks even more unlikely than ever. David Moyes has no money to spend. The squad has been weakened by AFCON absences. Their best players are being eyed up by other sides.
But Jermain Defoe’s goalscoring exploits tend to step up another gear in the last six months of the season. The only question is whether he can keep it up while West Ham are targeting him. And another key player - Patrick van Aanholt - is on Crystal Palace’s radar. Will it further unsettle an already unsettled side against Stoke?
Many would have tipped Burnley to head straight back down to the Championship this season. After all, that is what they have done in both of their last appearances in the Premier League, never lasting for more than a solitary season in the sun.
But a steady build under Sean Dyche has turned them into a strong side - never more so than at home. Burnley are sixth in the Premier League home table. A struggling Southampton side will do well not to underestimate the power of Turf Moor.
How can Bournemouth cope without Nathan Ake?
Nathan Ake’s loan spell at Bournemouth initially looked as though it would be a failure. He made just two appearances in their first 11 games. But a goal against Stoke changed everything and he became a key cog in Eddie Howe’s defence.
Unfortunately for the Cherries, the situation also changed at Chelsea. Antonio Conte switched to a three-man defence, which is perfect for Ake. He was recalled. Bournemouth now face Hull, their first Premier League opposition since Ake returned to Stamford Bridge. How they manage will be of note.
Will Morgan Schneiderlin help out his former side against Manchester City?
Arsene Wenger has always complained about mid-season transfers and this is a good example of why. Morgan Schneiderlin left Manchester United on Thursday but could still hugely contribute to their push for the top four when he faces their city rivals on Sunday.
United remain outside the Champions League places, but Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are catchable. If they were to lose against Everton, with Schneiderlin contributing, it could pan out to be one of the biggest impacts the France midfielder had for the Old Trafford side.
Can Anthony Martial continue his recent form while facing the side he made his name against?
At one point this season it looked as though Anthony Martial would be leaving Old Trafford. He was out of the side and his form had given Jose Mourinho little reason to keep him in it. Sevilla was a potential destination, Martial seemingly available on loan.
But his form improved - Martial has struck five goals in 10 games - and he now has a reasonable argument to be included against Liverpool. It was against the Anfield side that he first made a telling impact in a Manchester United shirt. It would be no shock to see him do the same on Sunday.
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