Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

1 Coulibaly in for tough evening

The winter arrival of Woyo Coulibaly from Parma underwhelmed Leicester fans as the left-back’s CV did not exactly suggest he was able to turn their season around single-handedly. The Frenchman has made four substitute appearances, his latest coming off the bench against Arsenal after James Justin was forced off in the first half, facing up to Raheem Sterling on the right-hand side of Leicester’s defence. If Justin does not recover in time for Brentford’s visit, it seems likely that Coulibaly will once again be thrust into action because Ruud van Nistelrooy has very limited options. Considering the form of Brentford’s Kevin Schade, the French defender can expect to have a difficult afternoon. Still, it is also an opportunity to prove he is worthy of being a Premier League player but if it does not work out, there will be even greater pressure on the much-criticised director of football, Jon Rudkin. Will Unwin

Leicester v Brentford, Friday 8pm (all times GMT)

2 Moyes waves to old club from above

Ruben Amorim has taken 14 points from 14 Premier League games as Manchester United manager, guiding the club from 13th to 15th in the table. David Moyes has won 13 points from six league matches in charge of Everton, lifting a relegation-threatened team from 16th to 14th in the process. At this rate Sir Jim Ratcliffe may want the Scot back at Old Trafford. Moyes is now looking down on two clubs that dispensed with his services, with Everton’s revival also taking them above West Ham, and Saturday presents an opportunity to take another big step towards safety. A depleted squad will not wash as an excuse for Amorim on this occasion – Everton also have an injury crisis that necessitates putting untested academy players on the bench – and he needs a reaction to the defeat at Tottenham regardless. Doubts are growing although, as the latest struggling United manager stands alongside one of his predecessors at Goodison Park, Amorim and Moyes might share a common belief that perhaps United’s biggest problem is not the man in their position. Andy Hunter

Everton v Manchester United, Saturday 12.30pm

View image in fullscreen David Moyes and resurgent Everton are up against his former club Manchester United. Photograph: Andrew Kearns/CameraSport/Getty Images

3 Wolves should take a risk with Munetsi

Vítor Pereira and Wolves were left disappointed to leave Anfield last weekend with nothing except some words of praise from opponents and pundits alike. They ensured Liverpool failed to have a single shot in the second half, no mean feat against a team that are favourites to win the Premier League title. Wolves were competent in the first half but were vastly improved after the break when Marshall Munetsi and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde came on. It leaves Pereira with something to ponder, as he will have a difficult decision on whether to start the two players that made a difference or hold them back. One thing counting against Munetsi is that he is a defensive midfielder by trade, but the Zimbabwe international was thrust into a more attacking role at Anfield. It would therefore not necessarily be a straight swap for the visitors at the Vitality Stadium unless Pereira wants to take another risk, which might be what Wolves need. WU

Bournemouth v Wolves, Saturday 3pm

4 Spence v Hutchinson is a key battle

The emptying of the Tottenham treatment room has been a much-needed boost to Ange Postecoglou over the past two weeks, giving the team a renewed sense that they can still have an exciting final three months of the season. One positive of the crisis was the re-emergence of the forgotten man Djed Spence who has become a mainstay at full-back, showing his versatility by playing on the left, not his natural side. Spence had struggled since arriving from Middlesbrough after impressing at Nottingham Forest but has finally found his feet in the top flight. If he gets the nod once more at Portman Road, he would face Omari Hutchinson. The former Arsenal man created Liam Delap’s goal at Villa last week and may be the most creative player in the Tractor Boys’ ranks. It could be the duel that decides the outcome of what feels like a tight match, especially as Ipswich shocked Tottenham earlier this season in north London. WU

Ipswich v Tottenham, Saturday 3pm

5 Saints fans deserve credit this season

Ralph Hasenhüttl was the most recent permanent Southampton manager to earn two Premier League wins, and he was sacked in November 2022. Since his exit Nathan Jones, Rubén Sellés and Russell Martin all failed to reach this pathetic milestone, while Ivan Juric has a solitary victory in his nine games in charge. It really is a dreadful record – as is one home win all season – but Saints fans are still showing up. They know that the Championship is calling, the team are not fit for purpose and a fortnightly defeat at St Mary’s is expected. More than 31,000 people still come to every home game, living in hope that there might be a positive outcome to put a spring in their step. The supporters deserve plenty of credit for doing what they can to back their team, even if the season has been one giant shortcoming. Brighton are heavy favourites on Saturday but the home fans will still be there, out of loyalty and hope. WU

Southampton v Brighton, Saturday 3pm

View image in fullscreen Southampton are heading for the drop but fans are still marching in to St Mary’s. Photograph: Matt Watson/Southampton FC/Getty Images

6 Mikel’s new striking option: Mikel

Could Mikel Merino be the man to save Arsenal’s season? The Spaniard’s two goals off the bench against Leicester breathed new life into their pursuit of Liverpool, and West Ham’s visit to the Emirates on Saturday gives them an opportunity to close the gap to only five points. The big question is whether Merino’s compatriot and namesake will start with the Spain midfielder in his new role as a striker, or if Mikel Arteta thinks he could again be more effective coming off the bench. Leandro Trossard was employed as the false 9 against Leicester but was much more dangerous when he replaced Raheem Sterling on the left and set up Merino’s second goal. Sterling – who has started only four Premier League games since joining on loan from Chelsea and is yet to score – has looked seriously off the pace and will probably have to make way against Graham Potter’s side. Ed Aarons

Arsenal v West Ham, Saturday 3pm

7 Another test against strugglers for Silva

Fulham are creeping into the race to qualify for the Champions League. They remain outsiders but will have a chance if the Premier League earns an extra spot this season. Marco Silva’s side are four points off fifth place and should be buzzing after beating Nottingham Forest last weekend. A worry, though, is that Fulham have blown too many winnable games. Victories over Chelsea, Newcastle and Forest are commendable but failing to take maximum points in home games against strugglers such as Ipswich, Southampton and Manchester United will leave Silva wondering what might have been. Fulham have to be clinical when they host Crystal Palace on Saturday. Jacob Steinberg

Fulham v Crystal Palace, Saturday 3pm

8 A new defensive formula for Emery again?

There were murmurs of excitement every time Marcus Rashford received the ball at Villa Park on Wednesday. Even before kick-off, the stadium announcer roared his name that little bit louder when reading the teams aloud, the intonation in his voice a giveaway of the sense of anticipation. It was Rashford’s first start in a Villa shirt but on the night Axel Disasi – another, less heralded, loanee – was perhaps their best performer. At one point Disasi even skated down the left touchline à la Rashford but it was in defence where he impressed, even if for Villa it is now one clean sheet in their past 16 matches. The pain for Unai Emery is Disasi cannot build on a promising performance against Chelsea on Saturday, with the Frenchman ineligible to play against his parent club. Ezri Konsa could return from injury or youngster Lamare Bogarde could fill in alongside Tyrone Mings. Do not rule out an 11th different centre-back pairing this season. Ben Fisher

Aston Villa v Chelsea, Saturday 5.30pm

View image in fullscreen Aston Villa’s Axel Disasi (left) is ineligible against his parent club, Chelsea. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images/Reuters

9 Former players could haunt Newcastle

As Chris Wood and Elliot Anderson prepare to return to their former home in Nottingham Forest colours, no one is quite sure which Newcastle team will emerge from tunnel. When Eddie Howe’s team are good, they are very good – just ask the beaten Carabao Cup semi-finalists Arsenal – but, as last weekend’s 4-0 thrashing at Manchester City confirmed, when they are bad, they really are bad. Howe’s worry is that his players may be distracted by a desire to avoid injury before the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool in mid-March. His problem is a lack of competition among a squad that has not been refreshed with a first-team-ready player during the past three transfer windows. How a manager said to be contemplating replacing Martin Dubravka with Nick Pope in goal for a match that may well help determine Champions League qualification could do with having Wood and Anderson still on his books. Louise Taylor

Newcastle v Nottingham Forest, Sunday 2pm

10 City host Reds’ biggest game of the season

There’s a strong argument to be made that Manchester City’s 2-1 home win over Liverpool in January 2019 was the highest quality Premier League match of the past decade. Both sides are well off that level now and, while Arne Slot’s side are nevertheless in control of the title race, tension is intensifying. Liverpool followed defeat by Plymouth with last-second devastation at Everton, were then unimpressive in edging Wolves, and a draw at Villa offered Arsenal, their only semi-serious pursuers, further encouragement. That makes Sunday’s Etihad clash the most important game of the season so far: should Liverpool win, it will be hard to see them being caught, but should they falter, the sense that they are a decent team taking advantage of serendipitous lapses elsewhere will compound. The question, though, is whether City are able to locate their energy and rhythm after a chastening experience in Madrid; Pep Guardiola’s side might just be ideal opponents for a side low on confidence. Daniel Harris

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