Premier League: Eight talking points ahead of the weekend | OneFootball

Eight talking points ahead of the Premier League, featuring Graham Potter’s reunion with Chelsea and a fiery clash between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest.

Potter under pressure ahead of Chelsea reunion

Graham Potter faces a reunion with his former club Chelsea on Friday night and heads into the clash under pressure. West Ham were well beaten at Sunderland on the opening weekend, a continuation of the club’s poor record under Potter’s management.

The 50-year-old took a patient approach to his managerial return after a short-lived stint at Chelsea, but could face another early exit if results do not improve quickly.

He has averaged just one point per game (20 games) at the London Stadium, the worst record of any West Ham manager in the Premier League era.

Opening weekend offers encouragement for promoted teams

After just one fixture, two of the three promoted teams have a win on the board. Sunderland produced a fantastic second-half performance to thrash West Ham 3-0 at The Stadium of Light, while a late Lukas Nmecha penalty earned Leeds an opening-night win over Everton.

Burnley were beaten at Tottenham, but face fellow promoted side Sunderland this weekend in an early six-pointer.

Last season, it was not until October 5th that a promoted team earned a victory. It then took until November 10th for all three teams to have secured a Premier League win. After two consecutive campaigns in which the three promoted teams have all gone straight back down, last weekend’s start bodes well for a more competitive division.

Long throws are back in fashion

Trips to face Stoke City side in the late noughties and early 2010s were often filled with dread. With chief chucker Roy Delap in their ranks, the Potters would launch throw-ins deep into opposition penalty boxes. After packing the box with giants, it was a tactic that teams struggled to deal with.

Long throws are looked down on by football purists, but they can be mightily effective. This season, it appears Premier League teams are prepared to mix up their attacking threat. According to Opta, 11 different teams attempted a long throw-in (described as travelling more than 20m and into the opposition box) on the opening weekend.

Tottenham, now under the management of Thomas Frank, have unearthed new throw-in takers in Lucas Bergvall and Kevin Danso, while both Arsenal and Liverpool were among the teams to try it. It’s not just a routine saved for those down the table. There were an average of 3.2 long throws per game in the Premier League last weekend, a steep increase from the 1.52 average in 2024/25.

After years of managers attempting to copycat Pep Guardiola’s teams, the Tony Pulis textbook has been studied this summer.

Gyokeres needs time to get up to speed

It’s now par for the course that a sub-standard performance is scrutinised on social media. After going goalless in an isolated debut performance at Manchester United, many have been quick to take aim at Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish striker signed for Arsenal this summer with the pressure on to be the goalscorer who gets the Gunners over the line.

However, a disrupted pre-season in which he pushed for an exit at Sporting offers some reason for a sluggish, 21-touch maiden performance. Gyokeres will take time to adjust to the Premier League and his new teammates, but there were glimpses of the threat he can provide.

One shoulder-to-shoulder with Matthijs de Ligt sent the Dutch defender into the Old Trafford turf, with Gyokeres certainly up for the physical battle. A clash with newly-promoted Leeds this weekend offers another chance to get up and running.

El CASico set to have plenty of spice

Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest meet on Sunday in perhaps the newest Premier League rivalry.

Palace supporters are planning a protest at the fixture amid Forest’s perceived role in their demotion to the Conference League. Forest have replaced Palace in the Europa League after the Eagles were found to have broken multi-club ownership rules. The decision was due to their former shareholder John Textor’s ownership of the French club Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League.

The clash has been dubbed El CASico, after Palace lost their appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with Forest chiefs in attendance.

Palace chairman Steve Parish has spoken publicly about Forest’s role in the case and there is set to be huge animosity at the fixture, with additional police support to attend.

Hill Dickinson era begins for Everton

Everton will hope to breathe optimism back into their season after a deflating start at Leeds on Monday night. A first-ever competitive fixture at the club’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium should create a fine atmosphere, with Brighton the visitors in a historic fixture.

David Moyes knows his team needs more additions before the transfer deadline, with familiar flaws exposed at Leeds. The lack of a right-back, defensive midfielder, and right-winger is cause for concern with just over a week of the deadline remaining.

Recruitment plans will be put on hold as Everton look to open up their home with a morale-boosting victory.

Time for Amorim to unleash Sesko?

Despite an encouraging performance against Arsenal, Manchester United opened the Premier League campaign with a defeat. The better side does not always win, and an inability to turn chances into goals cost the Red Devils at Old Trafford. Introduced from the bench was Benjamin Sesko, the £74m recruit, signed to add a focal point. The Slovenian’s cameo was quiet, but he will be chomping at the bit to start at Fulham this weekend.

Ruben Amorim could unleash the 6ft 5in goalscorer, allowing Matheus Cunha to return to a more familiar midfield role. With Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in support of Sesko, it’s a combination that provides a genuine threat for a side goal-shy last season.

Newcastle seek to send Isak statement

Newcastle United and Liverpool have delivered some classic contests throughout the years, and Monday night under the St James’ Park lights could be another.

A clash that comes amid the backdrop of Alexander Isak’s strike, as the Swedish striker looks to engineer an exit to Liverpool. Isak scored the decisive goal in last season’s Carabao Cup final win over Liverpool, but now wants to leave Newcastle for Anfield. He has cited ‘broken promises’ and a breakdown of his relationship with the club, though the Magpies are holding firm on his future.

Liverpool’s alleged unsettling of the 25-year-old has not gone down well among the Newcastle support, who are sure to raise the decibel levels at St James’. Expect a crackling atmosphere and fireworks on the pitch, as Newcastle look to show Isak that they can compete with the Premier League’s best.

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