Man City to drop points

Burnley v Aston Villa
Saturday, 15:00

Michael Jackson has gained 10 points from his first 4 video games answerable for Burnley, largely by reinvigorating the tactical mannequin that has lengthy been deployed by Sean Dyche. There have not been too many modifications, bar an upturn in power and a simplification of the technique after Dyche had turn out to be unexpectedly experimental in direction of the tip. But there may be one notable distinction.

With Josh Brownhill now partnering Jack Cork – who’s in glorious type since being reinstated – Burnley have the technical means in midfield to rapidly shunt the ball out to both flank, from which level they appear to launch excessive balls into the forwards. Attempts to construct by the traces have gone; all Burnley require now’s to discover house in deep broad areas to ping balls ahead.

Steven Gerrard continues to use a diamond 4-4-2 at Aston Villa, and though there have been some trials with different formations Villa at all times look equally slim. They can battle to fill the broad areas, particularly when on the again foot and compelled right into a deeper form. It is probably going that Burnley can be ready to get on the surface of that diamond and create quite a few possibilities.

Liverpool v Tottenham
Saturday, 19:45
Live on BT Sport 1

Tottenham Hotspur are precisely the form of crew who may finish Liverpool’s residence run. Antonio Conte’s use of attacking transitions and counter-attacks may breach Liverpool’s excessive defensive position, though simply as essential is the general place of his reactive form. Spurs will sit behind the ball to sluggish Liverpool down, however they may even keep doggedly in a midblock, refusing to let themselves get penned in.

From right here, a lot rests on how Fabinho can deal with Harry Kane. Kane tends to drop off the entrance line as Dejan Kulusevski and Heung-Min Son makes runs past, which catches out nearly anybody with a excessive line – together with Manchester City in a 3-2 win this 12 months. Jurgen Klopp will want a particular plan, and most certainly it is going to be on Fabinho to observe Kane across the pitch.

Despite the menace Spurs pose Liverpool are deserved favourites. The urgency of their passing by midfield will inevitably push Spurs again right into a 5-3-2 at occasions, at which level Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will get the room – on the surface of a slim midfield – that they want. The big mismatch in high quality between these two and Emerson Royal and Ryan Sessegnon offers Liverpool the sting.

Arsenal v Leeds
Sunday, 14:00
Live on Sky Sports Main Event

Leeds United are so much calmer than they had been beneath Marcelo Bielsa. They now not deploy a man-oriented press in open play, as an alternative sustaining a primary form that ensures their matches don’t descend into anarchy. What’s extra, Jesse Marsch is not coaching them as laborious or asking them to press fairly so manically; this recreation is not going to be as open because the reverse fixture, a 4-1 win for Arsenal at Elland Road.

The key battle is between Nuno Tavares, Arsenal’s weak hyperlink whereas Kieran Tierney is injured, and Rafinha. The Brazilian will anticipate to win his head-to-head, turning into lively when Leeds are ready to launch counters off the again of an Arsenal interval of dominance; though the hosts may have many of the ball, Marsch has retained the verticality that makes Leeds so harmful on the break.

However, Man City’s 4-0 win final weekend suggests Leeds can be extra defensive than many individuals assume, and sadly they do not have the standard to take care of an onslaught. Whether retaining a again 5 or not, the midfield combos between Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard will out-wit a Leeds facet out of the blue threatened with relegation.

Man City v Newcastle
Sunday, 16:30
Live on Sky Sports Main Event

Liverpool’s early aim at Newcastle United final weekend ensured it seemed like a straightforward 1-0 win, however the margins had been finer than they may have seemed. Eddie Howe is aware of how to organise a compact crew and compress the house; he is aware of how to sluggish a recreation proper down by conceding territory however participating fiercely in defensive actions inside 30 metres of aim.

And whereas Liverpool have the surprising rhythms and strange dribblers to break organised traces like Newcastle’s, Man City’s nice weak point is a sure predictability when matches turn out to be a slog. Their lack of a striker, and use of very related forwards throughout the road, means issues can turn out to be laboured and static, as we noticed in attracts towards Crystal Palace and Southampton.

After the frustration – and extra importantly, the shock – of their midweek exit Man City are unlikely to make a quick begin, permitting Newcastle to get a foothold and power a match performed at their very own tempo.