Premier League: 10 talking points this weekend from Arsenal’s Liverpool leak to Wan-Bissaka’s United test

Our writers look ahead to all the weekend’s action

1) Can David Luiz stem Arsenal’s Liverpool leak?

So, what damage will Liverpool do to the David Luiz-led Arsenal defence this time? How bad can it get? How much can the Brazilian stave off? That is the key question with this game because this is the fixture that has most exposed Arsenal’s profound defensive fragility. It is almost exactly seven years since they even kept a clean sheet at Anfield. That was a 2-0 win, which also happens to be the last time they didn’t concede two goals or more. They have tended to collapse at Liverpool, conceding a total of 22 goals in their last six visits. The most recent, in December, was one of the worst: a 5-1 evisceration. The fear is that attack will wreak similar damage. The hope is David Luiz prevents some of the devastation, and maybe offers a bit more. MD

2) Wan-Bissaka faces a familiar foe

Perhaps it should be no real surprise that Aaron Wan-Bissaka is already impressing at Manchester United, because he has simply carried on doing the things that made him so important at Selhurst Park over the past year or so. He is back on top of the league’s tackling charts already, so as Crystal Palace travel to Old Trafford on Saturday one of the big questions will be whether the one Premier League winger Wan-Bissaka has not yet faced, Wilfried Zaha, can get past him. It was the youngster’s impressive shackling of Zaha in his first ever senior training session which caught Roy Hodgson’s eye, and their meeting this weekend will be his biggest individual test yet in United red. LO

3) Trouble on Tyneside

It is early days, but Newcastle could easily slip into a crisis if they are not in one already. They have lost their opening two games, the latter a thumping by Norwich, and next week’s match against Watford is set to be the lowest attendance at St James’ Park in years as fans rail against the continued ownership of Mike Ashley. All of which means a trip to Tottenham is not what Steve Bruce really needs right now. A heavy defeat will only exacerbate the tough times on Tyneside. LO

4) Smith needs more from new Villains

Aston Villa were handed another lesson on what life back in the big time is really like after Bournemouth blasted out of the blocks and never looked back at Villa Park. It has been more of a stuttering than a strong start so far after their £127m summer spree and they’ll be looking for much better when they welcome Everton on Friday night. Dean Smith will demand an altogether more savvy performance from his men this time around but he’ll likely be able to count on Douglas Luiz, scorer of an excellent goal last week, who may well end up being the best of his new recruits. BB

5) Can Blues deliver 90-minute show?

Chelsea have shown what it is Frank Lampard wants them to be, at least in fits and starts, but they must now put it all together for 90 minutes at Carrow Road if they are to prevent going a fourth game without a win under their new manager. Norwich have already proved they will be no pushovers this season and finding a way to smother the irrepressible Teemu Pukki will be Chelsea’s foremost task. Lampard is likely to have Antonio Rudiger back in his squad but the German is unlikely to start, so it is up to the less experienced duo of Andreas Christensen and Kurt Zouma once more – they are both partners and rivals as they audition to be Rudiger’s sidekick this season. LO

6) Potter revolution faces fresh test

It’s a tale of two exciting and enigmatic managers in Graham Potter and Ralph Hassenhuttl who go head-to-head at the Amex, but it’s Brighton whose revived vein of attacking football is already showing such early signs of promise this season. A sturdy back-five, who have conceded just one goal in their first two games, are creating a sense of freedom further up the field in which the likes of new signings Leandro Trossard and Neal Maupay can shine. And, while it’s still so early into Potter’s tenure, the club’s craving for attractive football, which ultimately saw Chris Hughton sacked at the end of last season, is on a clear path to being delivered. TK

Graham Potter is the new man in the Brighton dugout (Getty)

7) Blades must snip Maddison’s service line

James Maddison looks set to be back in the England squad when Gareth Southgate selects his troops for Euro 2020 qualifying games next month. The Leicester midfielder impressed against Chelsea last week, with license to drift into pockets of space between the Blues’ defence and midfield where he set about terrorising them. Their pponents this weekend, Sheffield United, have made an impressive start to life in the top flight, but they are yet to face a player who creates chances as prolifically as the 22-year-old. If the Blades are to get a result against Leicester, stemming Maddison’s flow will be key. LO

8) Wilson can help Liverpool’s title push

So often Bournemouth’s undoing has been their record against the top six, and particularly the very elite like their visitors this weekend, Manchester City. While there’s no shame in that, it would be a timely boost this early in the season if they can find a way to preserve their unbeaten start against the champions. One player who could play a big role in achieving that is Harry Wilson; the midfielder on loan from City's title rivals Liverpool already has one goal to his name this season and his ability to spring a surprise strike from distance is the kind of unpredictable weapon that can unlock City’s tight defensive door. LO

9) Gracia cannot afford repeat Hammering

Both Watford and West Ham are without a win this season, and Watford don’t even have a goal to show for their 180 minutes of work thus far, so it’s fair to assume this will be a hard-fought scrap if not a thing of beauty. The last time this fixtures came around? It was the final day of the 2018/19 season and the Hammers thrashed Watford 4-1 to seal a top-10 finish. A repeat would be enough – even at this early stage – to put Javi Gracia under a little pressure at Vicarage Road.

10) Can Wolves crack open Burnley’s solid shell?

After rocking Manchester United last week in a thrilling draw at Molineux, Wolves now come up against the antithesis of what their tricky counter-attacking style typically thrives when they host Burnley. Yet, it’s in these often gritty encounters that Nuno Espirito Santo’s side must learn to impose their superior quality, rather than rely on a tendency to sit back and wait for the cracks in the opposition to form. In Burnley, they will find few and as the wearying effects of juggling the Europa League set in – as they did for Sean Dyche’s side last season – Wolves need a sharp and clinical edge to kill of games as quickly as possible.