Eight talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend, featuring Ruud van Nistelrooy’s future, Chris Wood, and Manchester City in unchartered territory.

Dyche has got Everton back to basics

Everton’s defeat at Southampton last weekend was a setback for Sean Dyche’s side, though the underlying data indicates the Toffees have rediscovered their strengths.

After a nightmare start, Everton have taken nine points from their last six games to climb away from trouble, while the Blues have conceded just four goals during that run. No team in the Premier League has conceded fewer over that same period, despite Jarrad Branthwaite’s absence from the side. Having conceded 13 goals in their first four games, Everton’s renewed sense of solidity bodes well as the season progresses. Last season, Everton had the best defensive record outside the top three – the foundation for survival.

Battle of the bottom two

Southampton secured their first win since promotion last weekend to move off the bottom of the Premier League table. A hard-fought 1-0 win over Everton has got the Saints up and running, ahead of a crucial six-pointer this weekend. Russell Martin’s 19th-placed side take on Wolves in a battle of the bottom two, with the latter still searching for their first win of the campaign.

Gary O’Neil is confident that victory is coming after improved performances of late and the arrival of Southampton at Molineux is an opportunity that cannot pass. A failure to win will leave O’Neil and Wolves in a precarious position.

Can Guardiola stop the rot?

Pep Guardiola is nearing unchartered territory. Manchester City’s humbling at Sporting Lisbon in midweek was a third consecutive defeat for the Citizens, just the second time Guardiola has faced such a run at the Etihad. City have never before lost four games in a row under Guardiola, while it’s been 18 years since the club last did so, under the management of Stuart Pearce.

The manner of the 4-1 defeat at Sporting, the club’s heaviest since September 2020, will concern as City’s depleted team was cut apart in the Portuguese capital.

A trip to a Brighton side unbeaten at home is perhaps not the ideal fixture to bounce back, with the Seagulls certainly possessing the tools to hurt the champions. However, City have a strong record against this weekend’s opponents, having won 13 of the last 15 encounters in all competitions.

Slot selection headache not getting easier

Arne Slot has the most welcome of selection headaches at Liverpool. Even with Diogo Jota out, the Reds boast a collection of forward talent that is difficult to squeeze into one XI. Slot has insisted his preference is to operate with a recognised forward but recent wins over Brighton and Bayer Leverkusen have been achieved without one.

The Dutchman chose to use Luis Diaz in a central role against the latter and the Colombian responded with a hat-trick to down the German champions at Anfield.

Diaz down the middle allowed the winger and in-form Cody Gakpo to play in the same side and it was an encouraging experiment for Slot. With Gakpo in the goals, Darwin Nunez chomping at the bit, and Mohamed Salah as good as ever, Liverpool are not short of options.

Wood out to haunt Newcastle again

Things didn’t work out for Chris Wood at Newcastle. Snapped up as one of the club’s first Saudi-funded transfers with the club battling relegation, he helped the Magpies secure their top-flight status but without regular goals.

He scored just four times in 35 league games before being allowed to join Nottingham Forest, where the 32-year-old has found a home.

After a slow start at the City Ground, Wood has flourished at Forest. He has 22 goals in his last 41 league appearances, including eight in just 10 games this season. The New Zealand international scored a hat-trick against his former club last season and will be out to haunt the Magpies again this weekend. He’s scored just two goals less than Newcastle have managed as a team so far this season.

What next for Ruud van Nistelrooy?

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s reign as interim manager of Manchester United will end this weekend, but will it be farewell to the fan favourite? The Dutchman was brought in to assist Erik ten Hag in the summer and has steadied the ship since his compatriot’s exit, with two wins and a battling draw with Chelsea from his three games in charge.

He leads the side for the final time against Leicester on Sunday, hoping to round off his tenure unbeaten. Question marks remain over what’s next for Van Nistelrooy, who clearly commands the respect of the dressing room but was the former coach’s man.

Will Ruben Amorim, who will bring along several of his coaching staff from Sporting Lisbon, decide to keep him around? Van Nistelrooy could be an ideal crutch to lean on as Amorim adapts to the demands of the Premier League.

Spurs need to avoid another European hangover

Tottenham Hotspur host winless Ipswich Town this weekend in a fixture Ange Postecoglou will be demanding three points from. Only two teams have collected more home points than Spurs this season and the visit of the struggling Tractor Boys offers the opportunity to improve their strong form in North London.

However, Spurs will need to avoid another European hangover after midweek excursions. Postecoglou’s side have lost their last two league fixtures immediately after Europa League commitments, at Brighton and Crystal Palace. After defeat to a Victor Osimhen-inspired Galatasaray on Thursday night, Postecoglou will hope his team is fresh enough to respond.

Will Odegaard return lift Arsenal?

Martin Odegaard made his return for Arsenal as a late substitute against Inter in midweek and how the Gunners have missed him. The Norwegian has been sidelined since September’s international break and Arsenal’s inconsistent form in his absence has underlined his importance.

Mikel Arteta’s team take on Chelsea this weekend looking to bounce back from consecutive losses. It’s three without a win in the Premier League, a run that has seen the North Londoners drop seven points behind leaders Liverpool. Having failed to score in their last two, Odegaard’s invention can lift an Arsenal side in desperate need of inspiration.

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