1) Baptism of fire for new Liverpool back-line
Sunday’s shellacking by Manchester City will have further dented Liverpool’s confidence, especially at the back where Alisson made mistakes, Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered at the hands of Raheem Sterling, and Fabinho gave away a penalty. Using Jordan Henderson as a centre-back has been a useful stop-gap for Jürgen Klopp but with the title slipping away and a key Champions League tie coming up, the manager will need to decide who can best fit alongside Fabinho. Ozan Kabak has experience in Europe from his time at Galatasaray as a teenager, while Ben Davies is a man with an in-depth knowledge of the English game. Klopp will have wished for a midweek FA Cup match to try at least one of them out, but they are likely to debut against Jamie Vardy, arguably the smartest striker in the Premier League. It will be a baptism of fire for either, but how the chosen centre-back does may be crucial for the rest of Liverpool’s season. WU
2) Spurs face slick City machine
Some of José Mourinho’s finest moments at Spurs, although there have not been too many, have come in matches against Pep Guardiola. The Portuguese’s rivalry with the Manchester City coach stretches back to when he was overlooked for the Barcelona job in favour of the Catalan. In his two games in charge against City, Mourinho has secured well-deserved 2-0 victories at home, playing smartly on the break against a struggling City defence. City’s back four is more settled now, giving up few goals, meaning the task should be far more difficult at the Etihad. It is the Spurs defence which is more susceptible at the moment, leaving Mourinho to chop and change on a weekly basis in order to find a combination that could hold the opposition at bay. Harry Kane and Son Heung-min have had the better of City in recent meetings, while City have ripped apart plenty over the past three months. Whoever has the sturdier backline on Saturday should win the match and, if it is Guardiola’s side, it will be proof of City’s dynamic shift. WU
3) A full Arsenal debut for Ødegaard?
Following two substitute appearances since his arrival on loan from Real Madrid, it would be no great shock to see Martin Ødegaard make his full debut for Arsenal when they entertain Leeds. Despite missing a glorious chance to equalise, the Norwegian impressed in defeat during a 25-minute appearance against Aston Villa, replacing Cédric and slotting in beside Emile Smith Rowe in midfield as Bukayo Saka moved to left-back. Having picked Smith Rowe for each of Arsenal’s past nine top-flight games, Mikel Arteta may decide to play Ødegaard and rest the 20-year-old in favour of adding additional steel to combat the swashbucklers of Leeds. Should he do so it promises to be a frenetic game, one that provides an intriguing test of Ødegaard’s Premier League mettle. BG
4) A surprise approach from the Baggies?
As Sam Allardyce’s record of never being relegated from Premier League looks set to slip away long before May, the former England manager will have to get his kicks any way he can in the closing stages of the season. Allardyce has always taken great pleasure in getting one over the bigger clubs and three points against Manchester United would be a tonic after a desperate run since arriving at the Hawthorns. Everton showed that pace and physicality can unsettle the United defence, two things that, conveniently, the Baggies have to call on. Thus far Allardyce has played a brand of football that few can be shocked by, as they have drifted 11 points from safety. The surprise of attacking intent could give West Brom an advantage against a side who have looked flustered under pressure but that will score goals, meaning the Baggies will need to find the net to get anything out of the game. WU
5) Everton’s…
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