Things to look out for in the Premier League this weekend, including Liverpool and Manchester United

Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash between Liverpool and Manchester United is the highlight of the Premier League’s weekend action. Elsewhere, another derby resumes following a nine-year hiatus while Southampton and Newcastle search for a cutting edge.

Liverpool and Manchester United defences deserve recognition, but midfield selections key

Fifteen weeks have passed since the October evening on which Liverpool and Manchester United conceded 13 goals between them, and the outlook is brighter. Certainly for the latter. For all their brilliance, United’s attackers cannot claim sole credit for their side’s ascent to the top of the Premier League. Since the 6-1 defeat to Tottenham, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have kept clean sheets against Chelsea, Manchester City and Wolves. In more recent weeks Eric Bailly’s return to the team has brought newfound stability, with just three goals conceded in four outings.

Meanwhile, for all the holders' struggles, Danny Ings’ strike during a 1-0 defeat to Southampton was just the ninth that Liverpool have conceded in 12 and a half games since Virgil Van Dijk’s injury, leaving them second in the standings. Fabinho’s emergence at centre half has possibly been the Reds’ only positive from the season so far. His absence in midfield has proved costly, though, so the news that Thiago Alcantara is in line to make his Anfield debut on Sunday is certainly welcome.

If Solskjaer is to maintain his own side’s defensive record, he too must find the right balance in midfield on Sunday. Paul Pogba earned plaudits for his match-winning display against Burnley but, given Liverpool’s threat in attack, his manager may opt to reintegrate Scott McTominay and Fred in his place. The duo are third and fourth on United’s list of top interceptors this term, while only Aaron Wan-Bissaka has won more tackles than the Brazilian. Then again, Pogba’s goal at Burnley was not his only contribution – he also won five aerial duels (a match-high). Such numbers might give him the edge over either of his fellow midfielders or Edinson Cavani.

Tottenham take on a Blades side boasting rediscovered Sharp edge

Spurs’ last trip to Sheffield United in July ended in a 3-1 defeat, in no small part due to the decision to disallow Harry Kane an equaliser as Lucas Moura’s arm fell onto the ball in the build-up. In his post-match interview, Jose Mourinho remarked:

“I know that with them [Sheffield United], if they score, they defend with basically a group of eight players… the midfielders are basically three more defenders that compact with the low block.”

By now, such an approach will be even more familiar to the Spurs faithful. Their own team has sat back and let a 1-0 lead slip in three of their last six league outings, the latest of which saw Fulham snatch a deserved point on Wednesday night. In fairness to Mourinho, his critics cannot claim that the north London side failed to create chances in the first half; ten attempts were not converted.

Although the Blades are bottom of the table, this might be the worst time to return to Bramall Lane in some months. Chris Wilder’s side picked up their first win of the season on Tuesday as Billy Sharp’s penalty gave them a well-deserved three points against Newcastle and, while the result may not be enough to kickstart a comeback before May, it may at least rekindle the spark that saw them take points from so many teams on home turf last term.

Carroll must start against Arsenal

Has patience with Steve Bruce finally run out on Tyneside? The manner of Tuesday’s defeat to Sheffield United, let alone the result itself, has provoked stinging responses from former Newcastle players, whose voices have joined the growing chorus calling for the manager to depart.

It’s not difficult to see why. His conservative approach has seen his side fail to win any of their last six league games, during which they have averaged 35% possession and 13.5 touches in the opposition area. They have also exited both domestic cup competitions without scoring. One would usually write that Bruce’s side will look to end that run when they visit Arsenal on Monday night, but that might be an optimistic consideration of his preferred strategy.

The Magpies have not taken a point at the Emirates since November 2010, when Andy Carroll’s header gave Chris Hughton’s side victory. Three months later and the academy product had made an ill-fated move to Anfield but, via West Ham, he is back at home and netted the first goal of his second spell against Leicester a fortnight ago. He should have added to his tally at Arsenal in the FA Cup last weekend but spurned two excellent chances in normal time.

Nonetheless, he led the line effectively by winning 14 aerial duels and taking nine shots. Given Newcastle’s problems in front of goal, Bruce could do worse than return to the system with which he started the season, namely that which saw Carroll line up alongside the more prolific Callum Wilson. That formation lasted just 45 minutes into Newcastle’s second match, but reuniting the pair would surely give his side a better chance against an Arsenal side blowing hot and cold.

Can Southampton rediscover scoring touch?

Victory over Liverpool ended a four-game winless run for Southampton and Ralph Hasenhüttl’s emotional reaction at full time left no doubt as to the result’s significance in the context of their season. The Saints have had 12 days to recuperate since that night, during which time the Austrian will have surely looked to address his side’s sudden profligacy in front of goal. Following 24 goals in their opening 12 games of the season, two further efforts in five games since have seen Saints slide to seventh in the standings.

Matters are further complicated by the fact that any solution cannot include the club’s top scorer for the season. Despite the extended break, Saturday’s match at Leicester comes too soon for Danny Ings, whose positive test for Covid-19 has ruled him out. However, his team have only suffered defeat once on the road since last February and face a Foxes outfit that have already lost four of their eight home matches this season. The visitors won the corresponding fixture last season, a result that went a small way to avenging the 9-0 thrashing inflicted by Brendan Rodgers’ side earlier in the campaign. Do they have the firepower to inflict further payback? Responsibility may lie with the returning Che Adams.

Will winless run end for Wolves or West Brom?

The first Black Country derby since 2012 is unlikely to end with another 5-1 win for West Bromwich Albion. The visitors remain in the relegation zone, having taken just one point from a possible 12 since Sam Allardyce’s appointment. They are yet to win on the road since their return to the top flight, with their sole victory coming at home to Sheffield United.

Nonetheless, a home win isn’t the certainly it would have been a year ago. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are without a league win in five attempts. Their defeat to Everton on Tuesday was their eighth of the Premier League season; a ninth would equal their tally for the whole of last term. Adama Traoré scored his first goal in over a year last weekend as his side eliminated Crystal Palace in the FA Cup – another here would do nicely.

Stats via WhoScored.