Is it too early to ask what’s going on at Tottenham?
The initial Mourinho bounce was short-lived, and now some of the old problems are coming home to roost.
Notably, an ageing squad with a number of unhappy individuals, and a lack of investment to bring in new talent.
And are Mourinho’s notoriously taxing training methods responsible for key players picking up long-term injuries?
First Moussa Sissoko, now Harry Kane. It’s not making life easy for you managers who filled up your Spurs quotas, only to see key men limp off or flatline in recent games.
But there may be some beneficiaries – Giovani Lo Celso being one. The crafty Argentine hasn’t really had a run in the side this term due to injury, but he could do now, particularly given the disinterested competition being provided by Christian Eriksen.
Japhet Tanganga may be another. The young Englishman is tenacious and powerful, and may be just what his side need at right-back after some inconsistent displays by Serge Aurier.
Elsewhere, could this be the weekend that Liverpool mount their most significant title hurdle yet? Manchester United are the only side to take points off them this season, and arrive at Anfield desperate to derail their great rivals’ charge.
Juan Mata is one to keep an eye on. Since coming back into the side, he’s provided everything that Jesse Lingard hasn’t – i.e. goal involvements – and with Liverpool’s high line likely to leave spaces, the diminutive Spaniard’s range of passing to set free his pacey attackers could be key.
It’s also a veritable six-pointer at Carrow Road on Saturday.
Defeat for Norwich would surely be terminal for their relegation battle, whilst if Bournemouth don’t pick up any points, then there will be some interesting conversations in their boardroom over the future of Eddie Howe.
We think this could be a game for Emi Buendia. The Argentine schemer has the third-most assists in the Premier League this season – behind only Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kevin de Bruyne.
It’s a scandalously good return from someone in his first season in the top flight, and who has been playing in a struggling side.
If you don’t own him already, he might be worth a look.
