As the second international break of the season comes to a close, the Premier League is set to return this weekend, with Liverpool facing off against Manchester United at Anfield, an exciting matchup that leads the weekend’s fixtures.
All 20 teams in England’s top division have completed seven matches, and the Premier League standings are beginning to hint at a thrilling title race alongside a relegation battle where the three promoted clubs—Burnley, Leeds United, and Sunderland—show potential to escape demotion.
Managerial pressure is mounting for Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou. High-profile summer signings like Florian Wirtz and Matheus Cunha have yet to make a significant impact at their respective clubs, while Bournemouth and Crystal Palace display signs of pushing for UEFA Champions League qualification.
With four Premier League matchdays before the November international break, several crucial topics are poised to emerge in the coming month.
– Man Utd: 4 steps for improvement by emulating Liverpool, Arsenal, and City
– Liverpool’s concerns: Transfers? Salah’s form? Upcoming fixtures?
– The most outrageous kits for 2025-26: From unique to bizarre
Can Amorim and Ange Last Until November?
Ruben Amorim received a public endorsement from Sir Jim Ratcliffe last week, stating that Amorim should not be judged until he has completed three years in his role. Yet, despite this backing, he remains the statistically worst manager in Manchester United’s Premier League history.
Since Amorim’s appointment in November 2024, United has failed to record back-to-back league victories. Their last away triumph occurred against relegated Leicester City in March. Thus far this season, United have only secured wins against two promoted teams and a Chelsea team with ten players for most of the game. Consequently, the upcoming encounter against Liverpool poses a substantial challenge for Amorim and his squad. While Ratcliffe’s words of support may offer some comfort, it’s important to remember similar reassurances were offered to Erik ten Hag just weeks prior to his dismissal last season.
Nonetheless, Amorim is not currently the most at-risk manager. That designation belongs to Nottingham Forest‘s Ange Postecoglou, who is facing immense pressure after seven winless matches at the City Ground.
Postecoglou replaced Nuno Espirito Santo last month under the watchful eye of demanding Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. However, the team’s performance has declined under Postecoglou, leading to fan dissatisfaction. Historically, Marinakis has shown a lack of patience as an owner, making Postecoglou’s position precarious.
1:35
Nicol: Mo Salah is lacking in confidence
Steve Nicol believes Mo Salah may be facing a confidence crisis this season as his struggles persist against Chelsea.
Is Salah Losing His Edge?
Mohamed Salah currently stands fourth in the all-time Premier League goal scorers list. If he adds just 12 more goals for Liverpool, he’ll become the third player ever to break the 200-goal barrier, joining Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, and Harry Kane. However, the question remains: will he reach that milestone this season, or are there signs that the 33-year-old’s prowess is waning?
Since February, Salah has netted 14 goals in all competitions, with six of those coming from the penalty spot. This season, he’s recorded just two goals and two assists for Liverpool over seven league games.
With the Africa Cup of Nations looming in December, he may be unavailable for up to six weeks as he represents Egypt. Additionally, new arrivals Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike are poised to take over as Liverpool’s primary attacking threats.
With age becoming a factor and international duties potentially impacting his focus—Egypt has also secured a spot for next year’s FIFA World Cup—this season might be challenging for Salah, possibly marking his final year at Anfield if his performance continues to decline.
The good news? Salah’s next opponent is Manchester United, a team against whom he has scored the most goals (16). Will this be the match that sparks his revival?
1:06
Nagelsmann supports Wirtz’s potential at Liverpool
Germany’s head coach Julian Nagelsmann expresses strong belief in Florian Wirtz’s future success at Liverpool following his significant transfer from Bayer Leverkusen this summer.
Time for Big Signings to Shine
New signings typically require time to adjust, but eventually, star players must deliver on their promise. This raises concerns for recent arrivals like Florian Wirtz, Matheus Cunha, Alexander Isak, and Eberechi Eze after more than two months in the Premier League.
Wirtz, having joined Liverpool in a move worth up to £116 million from Bayer Leverkusen, has yet to make a mark, recording no goals and assists in seven league appearances. The speedy nature of the English league may be proving too challenging for the German international.
Fellow Liverpool newcomer Isak, signed on deadline day for approximately £130 million, has contributed one assist in three Premier League appearances since arriving from Newcastle United, still adjusting after missing preseason due to his transfer aspirations. Wirtz and Isak are long-term investments for Liverpool, but both must enhance their performances swiftly.
Cunha, meanwhile, was a significant acquisition for United at £62.5 million from Wolverhampton Wanderers to improve their lackluster attacking record from last season, yet he has not registered a goal or assist in six appearances for Amorim’s side. New signings Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko have already found the net for United, intensifying the pressure on Cunha to make an impact.
Similarly, Arsenal‘s Eze has registered only two assists in six outings since his £67.5 million transition from Crystal Palace. In his final season with the Eagles, Eze tallied eight goals and eight assists and played a pivotal role in their FA Cup victory, scoring the deciding goal against Manchester City. He is still adapting to life at the Emirates.
Can Bournemouth and Palace Compete for Top Spots?
Bournemouth and Crystal Palace each boast highly regarded managers—Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner—and are igniting hopes for a top-four finish this season. Iraola’s team is just two points adrift of the leaders Arsenal, while Palace trails two points further back after their unbeaten streak ended with a defeat at Everton just before the international break.
The question remains: can both teams sustain their impressive starts and retain their coveted coaches long enough to see how the season unfolds?
The two clubs meet at Selhurst Park on Saturday, with standout performers in each squad. Antoine Semenyo has netted six goals and provided three assists for Bournemouth, while left back Adrien Truffert has seamlessly filled in the gap left by Milos Kerkez (now with Liverpool) and appears to be a bargain buy at up to £14 million from Rennes. Palace’s Adam Wharton, Marc Guéhi, Daniel Muñoz, Daichi Kamada, and Jean-Phillippe Mateta have all built on their previous performances, strengthening Glasner’s side throughout the roster.
Palace may have the greater depth to contend for a top-four finish, but Bournemouth also exhibits substantial quality.
Are Winless Wolves Already In Trouble?
Wolves face a grim outlook, currently residing at the bottom of the table without a victory this season. However, their tally of two points from seven matches is an improvement over the same stage last year, leaving some room for optimism about a turnaround at Molineux.
Key players Cunha and Rayan Aït-Nouri have departed for Manchester United and Manchester City, respectively, making the uphill battle even steeper for Wolves this year.
Sheffield United holds the record for the longest wait for a Premier League win, finishing their 2020-21 season with 17 winless matches and eventual relegation. While Wolves had to wait until their 11th league match for a win last season, they still managed to avoid the drop.
The next two league encounters are crucial for Wolves if they hope to turn things around. With matches against promoted sides Sunderland (away) and Burnley (home), securing at least one win is essential.