Key talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend | OneFootball

Our key talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend, featuring Manchester United’s Plan B and a potential coronation at the King Power Stadium.

Glasner must fix leaks at the Palace

Crystal Palace’s status as one of the Premier League’s form teams has been shattered over the past week. The Eagles sit seventh in the table for points won over their last 10 games but have been on the receiving end of back-to-back heavy defeats.

Oliver Glasner’s side have conceded five goals in consecutive games against Manchester City and Newcastle, ahead of hosting a Bournemouth team who are the second-highest scorers on the road this season.

After a shaky start, Palace have impressed in their 3-4-2-1 system, with summer signing Maxence Lacroix impressing alongside Marc Guehi in central defence. However, gaps have appeared in recent games. With Bournemouth having conceded 2+ goals in five of their last six, there could be end-to-end entertainment at Selhurst Park.

West Ham must get striker signing right this summer

West Ham’s hall of shame when it comes to striker signings is well documented. Names such as Mido, Benni McCarthy, and Simone Zaza were monumental disappointments, while the likes of Gianluca Scamacca and Sebastien Haller impressed before and after their time in Claret and Blue. Their periods in East London were less memorable.

Since David Sullivan and the late David Gold bought West Ham in January 2010, the Hammers have signed more than 50 forwards. There’s an argument that no more than five have been success stories.

Graham Potter’s side are struggling in the absence of a goalscorer right now. This season’s arrivals, Niclas Fullkrug and Evan Ferguson, have not made the desired impact, with the Hammers winless in five games. Chance making and taking has been an issue, shaping as the biggest problem to address in the summer.

Links to Lille’s Jonathan David have been welcomed but there’s a long queue chasing the Canadian. Whoever arrives through the door, West Ham need to get this one right.

Form teams tussle in Villa Park cracker

The best viewing in the Premier League this weekend will be found at Villa Park.

Aston Villa and Newcastle go head-to-head, two teams with similar ambitions and in red-hot form. The two teams have gatecrashed the Champions League places over the last two seasons and both are in the mix for Europe’s elite again.

Villa beat PSG in a valiant Champions League exit in midweek to prove they belong on the big stage. Unai Emery’s side have won nine of their last 10 in all competitions, ahead of facing a Newcastle team on a run of six straight wins. The Magpies thrashed Crystal Palace 5-0 in midweek to climb to third in the table. Villa are in greater need of the points and a home win would tighten up the Champions League chase. This is not one to be missed.

Plan B Maguire only highlights Manchester United faults

The heart rates of Manchester United fans might only just be settling down. A truly astonishing Europa League tie ended with progress to the semi-finals on Thursday, as United recovered from 4-2 down in extra time to snatch a 5-4 win against Lyon. It was a mind-blowing conclusion to a chaotic game, one that saw Harry Maguire head home the winner.

Maguire was thrust forward in the absence of a recognised forward and delivered with a towering header. It was the second time the centre-back has done so in Europe this season, having netted a late equaliser against Porto while an auxiliary number nine. Maguire, certainly, is a handful in the opposition box but Ruben Amorim can not afford to rely on his get-out-of-jail-free card.

With a tough Europa League semi-final with Athletic Bilbao on the horizon, Amorim needs to find a formula to get the best from his attacking options. Finding a solution to Rasmus Hojlund’s confidence crisis must be a priority.

Can anyone predict Fulham vs Chelsea?

West London rivalries resume this weekend in a fixture that looks impossible to call. Fulham and Chelsea have been predictably unpredictable in recent weeks.

The Cottagers’ last eight games have alternated perfectly between wins and losses, as Fulham’s push for Europe has stuttered. Chelsea’s own challenge for the top five has faltered, with one win in four in the Premier League. Enzo Maresca’s team were beaten at home by Legia Warsaw on Thursday night, in a performance greeted with groans at Stamford Bridge. A first-leg win ensured European progress, but few in the Blues’ camp are content with performances right now.

Will the King Power host a coronation?

The Premier League title ‘race’ could officially come to an end this weekend with Liverpool a chance to be crowned champions.

Arne Slot’s side will win the Premier League if they beat Leicester City at the King Power Stadium – provided Arsenal lose at Ipswich Town earlier in the day.

After a heroic win at Real Madrid in midweek, Arsenal are into the Champions League’s last four and chasing a maiden European crown. That competition has become the focus, but Arsenal will want to deny Liverpool’s title celebrations by another week at least.

Read – Fantasy Premier League: Who to captain in DGW33?

See more – Spurs, Manchester United, and a potential win-or-bust Europa League final

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