Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

1) All eyes on Kane, on or off the pitch

This is the opening fixture that King Solomon would have chosen for both teams and then declared: “If you cannot agree who should have Harry Kane, then he will play for neither of you.” Having said that, if Kane has anything about him, he should plead with Nuno Espírito Santo to let him play so that he can demonstrate the qualities that might persuade Manchester City to pay Tottenham’s asking price. And Nuno should make a gentleman’s agreement to pick the striker, and then leave him out and go with a side featuring players whom he knows for sure will be with Spurs for the whole season. There would be no better way for Nuno to kick off his reign than by beating the champions without Kane. That must be his aim. To dare is to do.

2) Roses battle resumes for Bielsa

Last season, for the second year in succession, a freshly-promoted Yorkshire side exceeded expectations before finishing ninth. Leeds will hope that is as far as they go in following Sheffield United’s lead, but Marcelo Bielsa’s side would find it hard to have a more hideous experience at Old Trafford than they did last time. On that occasion Manchester United were two up inside three minutes, 4-1 up at half-time and eventually won 6-2, while Kalvin Phillips was one of two players taken off in ignominy at the break. The return at Elland Road is perhaps a more enlightening precedent ahead of this game, an occasion on which Phillips was tasked with man-marking Bruno Fernandes and the Mancunians failed to score. There is some doubt over whether Phillips will start after joining pre-season training late following the Euros, and Robin Koch stands by after filling his role for much of pre-season, but after last season the Englishman will be desperate to make amends.

3) Palace in Chelsea crosshairs again

It would be wise for Crystal Palace not to get too excited by the fact that this game comes less than three days after a draining Super Cup final against Villarreal in Belfast: the Blues had to cope with a similar sub-72-hour turnaround after European games five times last season and won all the league matches by an aggregate score of 16-4, including a 2-1 win at Manchester City and a 4-1 success at Palace. That was the second time they put four past Palace last season, and something similar will be widely expected here. Chelsea were the second-best team in the league across the second half of the campaign, the start of which coincided with Thomas Tuchel’s arrival, and given what looks a forgiving opening-weekend fixture against a Palace side under new management this is an opportunity to make a statement of intent. Palace have made a few of those in the transfer market this summer, but of the new arrivals Michael Olise is injured and Conor Gallagher is unable to play against his parent club. 

4) Lage could see Leicester have goals on tap

Wolves have a brilliant theory: hire Bruno Lage to turn their team into thrilling attackers, full of pressing and fluid interchanges and goals, goals, goals. But does the Portuguese manager have the tools to apply that plan in practice given how little transfer business has been done so far? In particular, can defenders who have served Wolves very well in one style – such as Conor Coady, Willy Boly and Romain Saïss – suddenly revel in a funky high line? To play that way at Leicester, who could unleash speedsters such as Jamie Vardy, Harvey Barnes and Patson Daka, could be to invite a thrashing. Chances are there will indeed be goals, goals, goals at the King Power.

5) Bees ready for buzzy curtain-raiser

Brentford’s manager, Thomas Frank, wants his team’s fans to create “one of the greatest atmospheres ever” when they join Arsenal in kicking off the season on Friday. It will be a special occasion in west London: 74 years have passed since the Bees played top-flight football and their return will take place in front of a full house at the Community Stadium. There is a fresh, vibrant feel to everything Brentford do and it may be a good time to face Mikel Arteta’s side. Though Arsenal finished last season strongly, their lineup may largely look wearyingly familiar. There will be particular interest in the midfield battleground where Frank Onyeka, Brentford’s exciting arrival from Midtjylland, may face the similarly talented Arsenal signing Albert Sambi Lokonga as the Bees aim to get up and running with a shock win.

6) Young ready for noisy reunions

Asked last October about the possibility of returning to Watford from Internazionale, Ashley Young was effusive: “If I could go back again, I would walk from Italy right now because it’s where I come from and it’s what allowed me to be who I am and get where I am.” Rumours of a move to Vicarage Road persisted, when he told Sky: “I’ve never said I wouldn’t like to go back. It’s a fantastic club, but right now it’s just rumours.” A few weeks later he did indeed return to a familiar home in England and will start the new season at Vicarage Road – though the club he now plays for is Aston Villa: “When I heard of the Aston Villa interest, it was straight to my agent: ‘Get a deal done, whatever you can.’” Who knows if Watford made him a serious offer, but having offered to walk to Hertfordshire before choosing instead to jet into the Midlands, Young should probably prepare for some barracking here.

7) Canaries better-placed to concern Klopp

Two seasons ago, Liverpool gave Norwich an emphatic welcome back to the Premier League by defeating them 4-1 at Anfield. The Canaries have yo-yoed back again and, this time kicking off against Jürgen Klopp’s side on their own turf, will hope to show they are better equipped to make a fist of things. They have sold their prize asset, Emiliano Buendía, to Aston Villa but the rest of their more vaunted players have stayed put and the Kosovo winger Milot Rashica is among a clutch of promising recruits. Daniel Farke has been backed more solidly than last time around and there is a feeling Norwich can survive. Liverpool have been jolted by injury to Andy Robertson and this fixture may come at an opportune time for Farke. While Norwich face pressure to get points on the board, Liverpool know it is crucial to stay in touch with Manchester City. Neither side will want a troubled start.

8) Can Benrahma blossom for West Ham?

Finishing last season in relatively storming style and being spared major injuries before this campaign has generated a rare sense of optimism around Steve Bruce’s Newcastle team, who did the double over West Ham despite all their troubles. With Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin raring to go, Bruce’s side have the speed and skill to do more damage to West Ham’s defence. But David Moyes’s carry plenty of threat, too, and this could be the first match of a season in which Saïd Benrahma really comes to the fore and shows West Ham did not need to make Jesse Lingard’s loan move permanent.

9) Mwepu may trouble Turf Moor faithful

There was plenty of excitement when Leicester signed the forward Patson Daka from RB Salzburg this summer, but another Zambian who has made a similar journey is worth watching too. Turf Moor should be the venue for Enock Mwepu’s Premier League debut; the tall, dominant midfielder cost Brighton around £20m and may look a bargain in future. Although they could not turn down a hefty fee for Ben White, Brighton look well set going into the new season and Graham Potter has tools to strengthen further. The same cannot quite be said of Burnley, who badly need more depth to complement a hardened but ageing spine. Sean Dyche’s side make their doubters look stupid on a yearly basis but at some point a refresh, or at least the start of one, is bound to be necessary. If Mwepu and Brighton come away with an early win, the need to get new faces onboard may intensify.

10) Benítez braces for Goodison bow

Everton’s fans will surely give Rafael Benítez a chance to prove himself on the other side of Stanley Park from Anfield. Just the one, though, you’d have thought: the summer saw Carlo Ancelotti leave, Benítez arrive and just three uninspiring incoming transfers so far in Andros Townsend, Demarai Gray and Asmir Begovic, for a total outlay of less than £2m. At some point the fact that Richarlison has simply played through it – 15 international appearances since the end of last season, across World Cup qualifying, the Copa América and Olympics – will surely become an issue. It’s easy to imagine the atmosphere at Goodison Park turning ugly should results not meet expectations, and defeat to a Southampton side that ended last season badly, has since sold their only reliable goalscorer and will be without their injured captain in James Ward-Prowse might instantly turn on a toxic tap.