The Premier League resumes this weekend, marking the start of its first uninterrupted stretch of the season.
After a series of international breaks in September, October, and November, top-flight club football can now proceed without interruptions until March.
This return coincides with the bustling festive period next month, a crucial time in the football calendar.
With the action back in full swing, BBC Sport examines five key talking points, including the big questions: Can Liverpool be stopped? Will Manchester City rediscover their winning form?
Liverpool are soaring under new manager Arne Slot, leading both the Premier League and Champions League standings. The Reds have been nearly flawless, dropping points in just two matches so far this season.
With a five-point cushion over Manchester City, Liverpool are in prime position. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s side is struggling, having suffered four consecutive losses in all competitions—a first in Guardiola’s illustrious managerial career (excluding penalty shootouts).
Despite their poor form and growing speculation about his future, Guardiola provided City a morale boost this week by signing a one-year contract extension, which will see him complete a decade at the Etihad Stadium.
City face a challenging fixture on Saturday (17:30 GMT) as they host Tottenham and look to avoid a fifth straight defeat. Historically, teams five points clear at this stage of the Premier League season have all gone on to claim the title, but City’s resilience cannot be underestimated. They’ve overcome similar deficits during their four consecutive title-winning campaigns.
Both Liverpool and City will play one league game before their highly anticipated showdown at Anfield on Sunday, December 1.
Arsenal, who have been runners-up in the last two seasons, remain in the hunt, trailing Liverpool by four points. They share the same points tally as Chelsea, Brighton, and Nottingham Forest. The Gunners will host Nottingham Forest at the Emirates on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
Will Amorim Bring Immediate Change to Manchester United?
Manchester United will see a fresh start under new manager Rúben Amorim, who joins the Premier League this weekend. Amorim’s appointment from Sporting Lisbon was finalized on November 1, but he delayed his move to allow the international break to pass.
Former interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy also departs, as Amorim opted for a clean slate in his coaching setup.
Amorim’s first test comes on Sunday (16:30 GMT) as United visit Ipswich Town in the Premier League. Known for his preferred 3-4-3 system at Sporting, Amorim’s tactical approach marks a significant departure from the four-man defensive setups under Erik ten Hag.
However, the new boss faces a tight schedule, with many of his players returning from international duty just days before the match.
United fans will hope for a dream debut akin to Amorim’s first match as a Portuguese league manager in January 2020 when his Braga side stormed to a 7-1 victory over Belenenses.
Everyone has won, but who will kick on at the bottom?
After eight games, Ipswich Town, Crystal Palace, Wolves, and Southampton were all winless. Fast forward three matches, and each of these teams has finally secured their first victory of the season.
Meanwhile, Everton and Leicester City, both with two wins apiece, sit just three points above the relegation zone, highlighting the precarious nature of their positions.
Despite being only four points from safety, Southampton’s survival odds appear bleak. According to Opta, they have just a 5.2% chance of avoiding relegation.
“Hopefully, I’ll still be talking to you in two weeks,” Southampton manager Russell Martin said before the international break. “If not, we’ll see.”
For now, Martin remains at the helm and faces a daunting task on Saturday, as Southampton host league leaders Liverpool. One glimmer of positivity for the Saints is the form of Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who scored on his England debut against the Republic of Ireland during the international break.
As December approaches, managers are bracing for a grueling schedule, with fixture congestion set to test squad depth.
Four clubs—Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Manchester United—face a punishing run of nine matches during December, averaging a game every 3.4 days. The Carabao Cup quarter-finals, scheduled for the week before Christmas, add further strain to these teams’ schedules.
By contrast, some teams, including Nottingham Forest and Brighton—currently fifth and sixth in the Premier League table—have a less demanding month with only six fixtures.
To mitigate the intensity, rest periods between match rounds have been extended to ensure no club plays within 60 hours of a previous game. This is a notable improvement from last season when Chelsea played three matches in just 142 hours.
However, there will be no winter break this campaign, meaning clubs will face a relentless run of games until March, when the first 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the next round of Nations League fixtures take place.
And what about injuries?
The recent international break highlighted the issue of injuries, with nine players withdrawing from England’s Nations League squad—a situation that sparked reactions from fans and even drew comments from England captain Harry Kane.
As Premier League managers prepare for their press conferences on Thursday and Friday, updates on the fitness of key players will be eagerly awaited. Among those in question are Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Aaron Ramsdale, Levi Colwill, and Jarrad Branthwaite. Their availability for this weekend’s matches remains uncertain.
Liverpool fans will also be watching closely for news on Alisson Becker. The Brazilian goalkeeper has been sidelined for six weeks with an injury, and while his potential return would bolster Liverpool’s defense, it might also bring an end to Caoimhin Kelleher’s run as the Reds’ first-choice keeper during Alisson’s absence.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are dealing with a major disciplinary issue. Midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been handed a seven-match domestic ban by the Football Association for using a racial slur toward teammate Son Heung-min.
Although Bentancur will be eligible to feature in Europa League fixtures, his Premier League return will not be until 26 December, leaving Spurs without a key player during a crucial part of the season.
As clubs gear up for a demanding schedule, the fitness and conduct of players will play a pivotal role in shaping their fortunes in the weeks ahead.
SOURCE: BBC
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