1. Can Sturridge lift Liverpool?
DESPITE AN IMPRESSIVE recent 3-1 win over Chelsea, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool remain a work in progress at best, as emphasised by their last result – a 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace at Anfield.
This weekend, Klopp’s side face a stern test, as they prepare to travel to the Etihad to face league leaders Man City.
One player who could substantially improve the Reds if fit is Daniel Sturridge, though Klopp has urged patience amid the striker’s return to the squad following prolonged injury problems.
“Everyone wants to see more of Daniel on the pitch so you have to train but we have to find the right balance,” the Liverpool boss said ahead of this weekend’s encounter.
“His quality is outstanding, we don’t have to talk about this, but everyone needs training.”
City, however, certainly won’t be short of firepower, with Sergio Aguero declared fit to play.
2. Will Chelsea arrest slide?
Chelsea-Norwich is the kind of fixture that the Blues would normally be dead certs to win.
But the Londoners’ dramatic collapse this season means they currently sit one point below the Canaries in 16th.
One of Chelsea’s main problems this season has been their defence. At home, they have conceded 10 goals — one more than in the entirety of last season.
Norwich are hardly in great form either though — their defeat of Swansea earlier this month was their first win in seven matches.
3. Injury-hit United set for Watford test
Man United face a lengthy absentee list ahead of their trip to Watford for Saturday’s early kick-off.
Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Antonio Valencia, Luke Shaw, Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial are all unavailable.
The Red Devils have failed to score in three of their last five matches in the Premier League, and with three of their main attacking options ruled out (Fellaini, Rooney and Martial), this situation is unlikely to get any easier for Van Gaal.
Memphis Depay and James Wilson are both attacking options that won’t fill fans with confidence, though the visitors at least have the consolation of statistically the league’s best defence to rely upon.
4. West Brom to test Arsenal’s mettle?
The cliché that will probably be trotted out ahead of this game is that the Hawthorns is a ‘difficult place to go’.
It is, people might suggest, the type of venue where Arsenal tend to produce an overly complacent performance and fall short as a result.
Nevertheless, the evidence doesn’t really support these assumptions — West Brom have lost four and won only one of their six home games this season.
The Baggies have emerged victorious just once in their last 19 home meetings with the Gunners.
So in truth, the odds are firmly in Arsene Wenger’s side’s favour, although of course, they must ensure this game doesn’t descend into the battle that less talented but more combative players such as Ireland’s James McClean will he hoping for.
5. Are Leicester genuine top-four contenders?
There is no doubt that Leicester’s form this season has been nothing short of miraculous. Claudio Ranieri’s men, who travel to Newcastle this weekend, are currently third, just one point behind joint-leaders Man City and Arsenal.
Previously unsung heroes such as Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy have lifted the Foxes to unprecedented heights, but whether they can sustain this sensational form remains to be seen.
Often, a team’s overall league performance is as much about the squad as the first XI, and this department may be the reason for Leicester falling short ultimately. Could they cope with an injury to Vardy, for example?
In the Premier League this time last year, other sides were punching above their weight in a similar manner — Southampton were second, West Ham were fourth and Swansea fifth. These three teams ultimately finished seventh, 12th and eighth respectively.
It is the next three months, therefore, amid the onset of the traditionally harsh British winter and an unforgiving run of games, when Leicester’s true level will likely be ascertained.
