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Senesi and Stability Boost Bournemouth

Since their opening night against Liverpool, the South Coast side have stayed without a loss in the Premier League, though their early surge has slowed by two straight draws: on their turf to Newcastle and on the road at Leeds United. the West Londoners travel to the Vitality Stadium on Friday, giving the manager's team a decent prospect of returning to successful habits and climbing up to second in the table. After a hectic close season, Iraola has sought stability in his starting lineup. Behind 2-1 at Leeds, the gaffer made a three changes to bring back three regulars – David Brooks, Scott and Tavernier – to his side and was repaid with a late leveller. Bournemouth have also kept up defensive solidity, letting in just once in four games from the journeys to Liverpool and Elland Road. Senesi, often featuring in an largely completely new defensive unit, has been instrumental to the side's consistency. The defender earned commendation from the coach for his defensive contributions and danger at set-pieces in attack – as demonstrated by his headed pass for Kroupi's equaliser at Elland Road.

• Fulham's trip to Bournemouth, Friday evening kickoff (all times British Summer Time)

Longstaff Central to Leeds' Dead-Ball Prowess

If Leeds hope to stay up and perhaps even excel this season they will need to keep on capitalizing on mean free kicks and corners. A trio of the half-dozen Premier League goals the coach's team have bagged after coming back to the Premier League have derived from dead-ball situations and they could use further examples – or at least an example – arriving at Spurs' expense at their home ground on Saturday. Farke has used Sean Longstaff as his primary corner taker and, up to now, the ex- Magpies midfielder is proving highly adept and crucially consistent at the art. This shift of roles has also freed up his central partner Stach to enter the penalty area at set plays and throw his tall physique at the football. Previously on Tyneside, he also had a talent for making late, virtually Frank Lampardesque runs into the box and scored a few goals from live action. Currently the coach could do with reigniting that trait in a player who lost his way a little at Newcastle the previous campaign but is appearing positively renascent.

• Leeds versus Tottenham, Saturday lunchtime kickoff

Sunderland May Cause Problems for Amorim

With a journey to Liverpool approaching after the break for internationals, a match at home against teams that came up is, theoretically, an opportunity for the Manchester United boss to ease the heavy pressure around Manchester United. In reality, it could be another challenging afternoon at the Theatre of Dreams against an strong Black Cats team with two key attributes their opponents are desperately short on: a clear style and versatility. Inquired how he has been able to create such a well-drilled squad from a large number of new arrivals, Régis Le Bris, said: “The newcomers add a renewed vigor and style of play … [but] we don't start from scratch – the character of the team is already there.” Whereas the coach continues to be mired in his own unwillingness to change, Le Bris has shown he is ready to change. Entering the prior term's Championship playoffs on the back of five losses in a row, he changed to a pragmatic approach and laid the base for achievement in the Premier League. All of this have been accomplished while Amorim has largely led the Red Devils without progress, and hardly anyone would be truly shocked if the visitors were to push him closer to the exit door this matchday.

• Manchester United v Sunderland, Saturday 3pm

Gunners Seek to Banish West Ham Hoodoo

Following overcoming their hoodoos on the road at Newcastle and in front of their fans to the Greek side in the last two matches, the next challenge for the North London club is a possibility to banish thoughts of back-to-back reverses to the Hammers at the home ground. Each ended up harming their hopes of claiming the title, with the single-goal loss in February among the rare times when the former boss had anything to celebrate during his ill-fated spell in charge of the Irons. A positive tie in his first match against the Toffees will have aided the new manager get used to his new club and the one-time Nottingham Forest manager will be keen to follow up that on the weekend, having been unable to secure a victory against Arsenal ever since he was in charge of Wolverhampton in the 2021 season.

• Arsenal versus West Ham, Saturday 3pm

Chelsea Could Turn to Lavia for Liverpool Clash

Lavia was excellent when Chelsea overcame the Reds at home in the spring. The Belgian midfielder brings class on the ball and a fine capacity to evade pressure. But while he regularly allows the manager's tactics seem smoother, Lavia's {fitness record|in