Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

10-Sep-2020 23:01:38 | The Guardian

Chance for Arsenal’s Saliba to impress at Fulham, Ancelotti and Mourinho do battle and big-spending Chelsea face Brighton

A price of success is the fear of following it up with failure and a section of Liverpool fans are twitchy at a lack of new personnel. Kostas Tsimikas is the sole senior summer arrival and as back-up to Andy Robertson. There is also January signing Takumi Minamino, who will be required to build on cameo roles during last season’s run-in. That Rhian Brewster and Harry Wilson are being touted for sales also suggests Jürgen Klopp is parsing down the youngsters he feels can augment his squad. Tsimikas and Minamino cost £21m between them and the football finance guru Swiss Ramble has suggested Liverpool’s parsimony is down to increased costs. Fans yearn for Thiago Alcântara to freshen the midfield but that deal is by no means guaranteed. Does that point to a weakened Liverpool? Not necessarily since Klopp’s team had an easier Project Restart schedule than their peers, having exited the Champions League in March and had all but won the league by the time of resumption. Liverpool’s problem in early season may be rustiness but despite that lack of refreshment and Chelsea’s lavish spending, only Manchester City are likely to stop 19 league titles becoming 20. JB