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The 2024-25 Premier League season is still very young but already, some narratives and trends are starting to form.

Some are rather predictable, with Manchester City sitting pretty with a 100% record. And others are a little more surprising, such as Tottenham Hotspur languishing in the bottom half with just one victory from four games so far.

So, which storylines and stats should you be keeping a close eye on as we head into gameweek five?? Read on for some of the most interesting ones…

1. Fortress in the Forest

Nottingham Forest have been one of the surprise packages of the early season so far. They currently sit seventh, still unbeaten after four games following their shock 1-0 win against Liverpool at Anfield last weekend. With just four goals scored, it’s safe to say Nuno Espirito Santo has built this strong start on his famous defensive organisation. Forest have conceded just two goals so far, with only Arsenal and Liverpool (one) able to better that. It is the result of long-term defensive improvements. In 2024 so far, they have conceded an average of 1.18 xG per match. Only Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have better records.

Espirito Santo is well-equipped at the back following the summer signings of Alex Moreno and Nikola Milenkovic. Moreno has registered the most tackles (six) of any Premier League player last weekend, while Milenkovic has won more aerial duels (eight) than any other Forest defender so far.

Then, of course, there’s Murillo. The Brazilian was key in helping Forest stay up last season despite a four-point deduction following his arrival from Corinthians. Murillo was heavily linked with a move away from Forest this summer, with Arsenal the most high-profile admirers. The 22-year-old has certainly caught the eye of Arsenal legend Ian Wright.

“The way they defended, you know, he’s getting to be one of my favourite players to watch, Murillo at the back for Forest,” Wright said of the defender following last week’s win over Liverpool. “He’s so good, he’s so good on the ball. He’s passing out of defence, he’s very good.”

Up next is a clash with a Brighton side who are also unbeaten and sitting level with Forest on eight points. But Forest’s defensive record gives them real hope of making it three wins from three on the road.

2. Ndidi reborn

A few years ago, Wilfred Ndidi was regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League, linked with many a big move to one of England’s elite. The Nigeria international stuck around at Leicester City and helped them earn promotion back out of the Championship last season. He asserted his committed by signing a new deal with the club — after a short scare where he technically became a free agent for a short while.

Ndidi has returned to the Premier League looking reborn as an attacking midfielder, playing his last two league matches and the 4-0 win over Tranmere in the EFL Cup in a less familiar No.10 role.

Nobody could have seen this coming but in his last three appearances across all competitions, Ndidi has registered three assists — including two in the 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace last time out — and a goal. The Nigerian is Leicester’s top creator in the Premier League so far this season with six chances created. For context, Ndidi’s most prolific Premier League campaign to date in terms of assists was in 2020-21 when he provided four, needing just one more to equal that tally.

If Ndidi keeps this up, we’ll be heralding Steve Cooper as a football genius by the end of the season.

3. Gakpo to get his chance?

After an excellent showing at Euro 2024 and seeing a fellow Dutchman take his place in the dugout, many expected Cody Gakpo to finally reach his full potential at Liverpool this season. So far in the league, it hasn’t really got going, with the former PSV forward having to settle for minutes from the bench in each of Liverpool’s four Premier League games so far. He’s had to watch on as fellow wingers Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz have scored three goals apiece.

But Diaz was given a breather against AC Milan in the Champions League during the week, only playing the final 22 minutes. In his place, Gakpo caused havoc at the San Siro, creating two chances — including the assist for Dominik Szoboszlai’s goal to make it 3-1. He also attempted three shots, had eight touches in the opposition box and completed four of his seven attempted dribbles.

“I would have played Cody Gakpo on Saturday, but he played two games for the national side,” Arne Slot said after the win over Milan, suggesting Gakpo could get his chance to start in the Premier League against Bournemouth this weekend. In three meetings against the Cherries across all competitions last season, Gakpo registered a goal and an assist.

“Arne Slot has to play Cody Gakpo in this fixture,” former Arsenal forward and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson said recently. “I thought he was brilliant in the win over Milan. He also performed so well at the Euros, but we haven’t seen the same from him at Liverpool.

“Gakpo was going past people for fun and making the right decisions at Euro 2024. I’d be shocked if he doesn’t start and as a Bournemouth player I wouldn’t want to face him.”

Liverpool have played Bournemouth 18 times since January 2014, losing just once and scoring 51 goals along the way at an average of 2.83 per game.

4. The cursed man

A penny for Ben Brereton Diaz’s thoughts right now. The Chile international just can’t catch a break. Southampton‘s 3-0 loss to Manchester United last week means he’s now set a new competition record for the most Premier League appearances without being on the winning side (18), including 11 straight defeats. His form guide for Southampton and Sheffield United combined during that time reads as such: DLLDDLDLLLLLLLLLL.

Up next is an early-season six-point against fellow newly-promoted side Ipswich Town and not that any manager should be running his team based on superstition, but you’d forgive Russell Martin for considering dropping Brereton Diaz for this one.

5. The robot

One forward having no such problems right now is Erling Haaland. Whether he’s a cyborg from another dimension or heaven-sent, it’s clear the Norwegian’s purpose on this Earth is to score goals and wreak havoc on defenders.

Already, Haaland is sitting on a ridiculous nine goals in four games after following up back-to-back hat-tricks with a match-winning brace against Brentford last week. He joins Wayne Rooney (2011-12) as the only players to have scored at least goals in the opening four games of a Premier League season. In fact, he’s gone one better than Rooney, as the only player to manage nine during that timeframe.

Up next is a clash with Man City‘s title rivals Arsenal. Interestingly, Haaland failed to score in three meetings against the Gunners across all competitions last season. However, his record the previous season was much better, with two goals and two assists in two Premier League outings.

And none of that really matters when you look at the eye-watering form Haaland currently finds himself in. Even against the Premier League’s best defence, a goal feels inevitable.

6. Saka to emulate Henry?

Of course, Arsenal have plenty of attacking weapons of their own and chief among them is Bukayo Saka. The England winger has only scored one goal in the Premier League so far this season, but that’s largely because he’s been so busy setting up his teammates, notching an assist in each of his four outings so far.

One more at the Etihad would see Saka join Arsenal icon Thierry Henry as just the second player to register an assist in each of the first five Premier League games of the season.

7. Dwight McNeil: An Everton lifeline?

Everton are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table with zero points and a goal difference of -9 after just four games. The reasons for their struggles have been hard to pin down, with the Toffees losing their opening two games by a 7-0 combined scoreline. They then sorted their attacking problems out to take 2-0 leads against both Bournemouth and Aston Villa, before twice throwing it away to lose 3-2.

Sean Dyche can at least take solace in the fact that his team are creating chances, hopefully pairing that with defensive improvement with Jarrad Branthwaite nearing a return to fitness.

Key to Everton being able to at least cause problems for the opposition has been Dwight McNeil. The former England youth international isn’t universally liked at Goodison Park, with many supporters fierce critics of his style of play. However, McNeil is the surprise Premier League leader this season when it comes to chances created (17) and big chances created (5), while only four players have bettered his two assists.

Everton simply must avoid defeat away at Leicester this weekend to finally get their season up and running. Given their problems at the back, you get the feeling McNeil will need to show up again with some more creative wizardry to help make that happen.

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