Welcome to The Radar, a Sky Sports column where Nick Wright combines analysis and insights to highlight key stories from the Premier League. This week’s topics include:
đź”´ Salah’s drop-off linked to Trent’s absence
đź’Ş Arsenal’s defence becoming even more solid
⚒️ Nuno replaces Potter at West Ham
🔍 Key players to watch this weekend
Salah Struggles Without Trent
Arne Slot finds himself in a rare position as Liverpool manager, having suffered back-to-back losses for only the second time. Similarly, Mohamed Salah, who played a pivotal role in last season’s title win, is experiencing a concerning decline in form.
Salah has not scored from open play in the league since the season’s opener, with all his performance metrics seeing a downturn—goal involvements, touches, and chances created have all dropped.
With the season still young, a standout performance against Chelsea on Saturday, broadcast live on Sky Sports, could serve as a turning point for the forward. But what is causing his sluggish start?
It could be a sign of aging; Salah turned 33 in June. However, the bigger issue appears to be the absence of the player who facilitated much of his service: Trent Alexander-Arnold. His departure has significantly impacted Salah’s performance.
The synergy between them on Liverpool’s right side was crucial, with Alexander-Arnold providing a high volume and specific type of service that allowed Salah to thrive.
Alexander-Arnold was responsible for 147 line-breaking passes to Salah last season, 36% more than any other Premier League duo. This season, Salah has struggled due to the inconsistency at right-back following Trent’s injury, with players like Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley facing their own issues that forced them out of the starting line-up. Dominik Szoboszlai has been filling in, but his average of 3.5 line-breaking passes per 90 minutes doesn’t match Alexander-Arnold’s 5.6 from last season.
That disparity explains Salah’s current decline in form. While new signings like Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, and Alexander Isak were brought in to bolster the team, their effectiveness relies significantly on solidifying the offensive framework that was disrupted by Alexander-Arnold’s absence.
Arsenal’s Strengthening Defence
Amid Liverpool’s struggles, Arsenal is gaining momentum, remaining unbeaten in their last six matches since their defeat at Anfield in August. A standout performance from Martin Odegaard in the Champions League win against Olympiakos highlighted their recent success, as did their 11th clean sheet in 14 Champions League games.
The Gunners held Olympiakos to a mere 0.5 expected goals, showcasing their defensive prowess. They have conceded just once from open play in nine fixtures across all competitions this season.
Despite key defender William Saliba dealing with injuries, Arsenal’s backline remains robust, thanks in part to the arrivals of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie, enhancing their defensive depth while maintaining their strong qualities.
With new attacking threats added during the transfer window, Arsenal appears well-positioned to enhance their challenge for titles this season.
Potter’s Departure from West Ham
This role often comes with its challenges, which was evident during my recent interview with Graham Potter just before his dismissal at West Ham, which happened less than 24 hours later. It was a tough situation; he had to address the media for a game he wouldn’t be coaching.
However, West Ham’s decision to act before their match against Everton seems to have paid off. Nuno Espirito Santo has taken charge and already influenced the team positively during their 1-1 draw against Everton, which showcased improvements but also highlighted ongoing issues, particularly with set pieces.
Nevertheless, their performance was noted as one of the best defensively this season, limiting Everton to only 0.73 expected goals. With Nuno at the helm for a full week of preparation before facing Arsenal, the outcome remains to be seen.
Players to Watch This Weekend
Keep an eye on Sunderland’s new signings, including Granit Xhaka, Nordi Mukiele, and Omar Alderete, as they face Manchester United and aim to make a significant impact.
Live Radar: What’s on Sky this weekend?
Friday kicks off with Friday Night Football as Bournemouth takes on Fulham at 8pm, with coverage starting at 7pm on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event.
On Saturday, Chelsea will host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge for Saturday Night Football, with coverage starting at 5pm and kick-off at 5:30pm.
Sunday features a busy lineup, including Aston Villa vs Burnley, Everton vs Crystal Palace, Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest, and Wolves vs Brighton at 2pm, followed by Brentford against Man City at 4:30pm.
Check out last week’s Radar column
The previous column discussed how Eberechi Eze could address Arsenal’s creativity concerns prior to his key contributions in their victory against Newcastle.