Digne versus Traore and other key battles

Wolves v Everton
Tuesday, 20:15
Live on Sky Sports Arena

Wolves might be joyful to sit down again and take up strain for lengthy durations of this match, partly as a result of that’s Nuno Esperito Santo’s technique for many massive matches and partly due to the membership’s harm disaster. What’s extra, West Ham have just lately proven that Everton will be simply stunted by a low block; in Allan’s absence, Tom Davies struggled to play with sufficient tempo, resulting in sluggish and aimless possession.

With Everton hogging the ball and probing for gaps, and with the midfield as soon as once more unable to claim themselves (Wolves’ Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves should dominate), Carlo Ancelotti might be anticipating massive issues from the Lucas Digne and Richarlison partnership. Digne returned to the facet after a prolonged harm within the win over Rotherham.

His overlapping runs may show harmful, though it can additionally depart area on the counter for Adama Traore, who’s in a great run of kind just lately. With Wolves being affected person and Everton egged ahead, Traore ought to nearly get the higher of Digne of their essential head-to-head.

Burnley v Manchester United
Tuesday, 20:15
Live on Sky Sports Main Event

There is a typical false impression that Burnley are a defensive staff who like to sit down deep and frustrate the elite golf equipment, however that’s fully unfaithful. Just as a result of they hit numerous lengthy balls and play in a 4-4-2 doesn’t imply they’re purely defensive; Sean Dyche’s staff are extra like Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, holding a midblock and urgent fairly aggressively as soon as the ball enters the central zone of the pitch.

That is why Burnley so usually lose closely in massive video games, and that ought to be what occurs right here. They may need overwhelmed United 2-0 at Old Trafford when the edges final met in January 2020, however a lot has modified since then. That day, United have been with out Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, and the then-unsigned Bruno Fernandes, counting on Andreas Pereira and Daniel James for creativity.

Now, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has loads of tempo and firepower within the staff, which implies United ought to fairly comfortably lower clear by way of this aggressive Burnley outfit. Dyche’s staff are all the time decompressed between the strains towards the massive golf equipment, usually trying hopelessly porous. United’s razor-sharp attackers will take pleasure in this one.

Manchester City v Brighton
Wednesday, 18:00
Live on BT Sport 1

Brighton have misplaced every of their final three video games towards Man City by an combination rating of 13-1, and Graham Potter has a 9-0 defeat to his identify over two matches towards Pep Guardiola. This will be defined by the Brighton supervisor’s insistence on taking part in in an expansive and possession-based method regardless of the opponent, which leaves them hopelessly open and straightforward to interrupt down.

Man City might be joyful to counter rapidly by way of the center of the decompressed Brighton strains, and even with out Sergio Aguero ought to have the ability to document an enormous win for the primary time shortly. Brighton’s finest midfielder, Yves Bissouma, is suspended for the match, which is a large blow and ought to imply Kevin de Bruyne simply will get on the ball to pierce by way of the centre of the park.

Brighton will always look to cross out from the again and ought to get caught quite a few occasions, particularly with out their metronome and calming presence in Bissouma. If that wasn’t sufficient motive to again an enormous City win, Brighton have not received any of their final 9 video games in all competitions, even drawing at house to Newport County within the FA Cup.

Tottenham v Fulham
Wednesday, 20:00
Live on Amazon Prime Video

Scott Parker deserves lots of reward for adapting to the challenges of the Premier League, and after beginning the marketing campaign in a naïve possession system he has fully modified how Fulham play. Now in a 3-4-2-1, Fulham have taken to some backs-to-the-walls defending and discovered a counter-attacking menace too, with Ademola Lookman excelling as an inside ahead in a system he is aware of nicely from his time at RB Leipzig.

Fulham will take up strain for lengthy durations right here, simply as they did in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool, during which they held simply 25% possession. Taking inspiration from how they saved Jurgen Klopp’s forwards quiet, the guests might be assured of foiling Harry Kane as he drops off the entrance line. Spurs’ greatest concern below Jose Mourinho is breaking down deep groups, as a result of just about all of their play is geared in direction of taking part in on the break.

There are not any set strikes for Spurs to fall again on, no teaching from Mourinho to prise a form aside. Heung-Min Son tends to go lacking in video games like these, whereas Kane ought to be drowned out by a shape-shifting midfield. Fulham positively stand an opportunity of recording their fifth consecutive Premier League draw.