Premier League: Eight talk points for the weekend

Eight talk points for the Premier League, with the reunion of Graham Potter with Chelsea and a fiery collision between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest.

Potter under pressure before the reunion of Chelsea

Graham Potter will be confronted on Friday evening with a reunion with his former club Chelsea and is being put into the collision. West Ham was well defeated in Sunderland during the opening weekend, a continuation of the bad record of the club under the management of Potter.

The 50-year-old took a patient approach to his management return after a short-lived stint at Chelsea, but could face another early exit if the results do not improve quickly.

What have you made from Graham Potter’s Reign in West Ham so far? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/pbqqeuokyjw
– transfer market.co.uk (@tmuk_news) August 21, 2025

On average, he only has one point per match (20 games) in the London Stadium, the worst record of every West Ham manager in the Premier League era.

Opening Weekend offers encouragement for promoted teams

After only one fixture, two of the three promoted teams have a victory on the board. Sunderland produced a fantastic second half to perform West Ham 3-0 in Thrash in the Stadium of Light, while a Late Lukas Nmecha Penalty Leeds yielded a victory in the opening evening on Everton.

Burnley was defeated in Tottenham, but Face Fellow Promoted Side Sunderland this weekend in an early six-guide.

Last season, it was only in October 5 that a promoted team won a victory. It took until November 10 before all three teams had won a Premier League win. After two consecutive campaigns in which the three promoted teams all went back immediately, the start of last weekend is good for a more competitive division.

Long throws are in fashion again

Trips to Stoke City Side in the late nineties and early 2010 were often filled with fear. With Chief Chucker Roy Delap in their ranks, the Pottenbakkers would launch Throw-Ins deep in opposition criminal boxes. After packing the box with giants, it was a tactic with which teams had trouble dealing.

Long throws are looked down by football purists, but they can be effective. This season it seems that Premier League teams are willing to mix their attacking threat. According to to elect11 different teams tried a long throw -in during the opening weekend (described as more than 20 m and in the opposition box).

Tottenham, now under the management of Thomas Frank, has excavated new warms in Lucas Bergvall and Kevin Danso, while both Arsenal and Liverpool were among the teams to try it. It is not only stored a routine for those who are along the table. There were an average of 3.2 long throws per match in the Premier League last weekend, a steep increase compared to the 1.52 average in 2024/25.

After years of managers trying to copy the Pep Guardiola teams, the Tony Pulis Learning Book was studied this summer.

Gyokees needs time to get up

It is now par for the course that a sub-standard performance is being investigated on social media. After they are aimless in an isolated debut performance at Manchester United, many quickly focused on Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish striker signed this summer for Arsenal with the pressure on the goal scorer who gets the Gunners over the line.

However, a disturbed pre-season in which he insisted on an exit at Sporting offers a reason for a slow, 21-Touch Maiden performance. Gyokees will take the time to adapt to the Premier League and his new teammates, but there were a glimpse of the threat he can offer.

One shoulder-to-shoulder with Matthijs de Ligt sent the Dutch defender to the old Trafford-Turf, with Gyokeres especially for the physical struggle. A collision with newly promoted Leeds this weekend offers another chance to get started.

El Casico must have many herbs

Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest measures on Sunday in perhaps the latest Premier League rivement.

Palace supporters plan a protest on the competition in the midst of Forest’s observed role in their relegation to the Conference League. Forest has replaced the palace in the Europa League after the Eagles have violated the rules for several club ownership. The decision was due to the ownership of their former shareholder John Textor of the French club Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League.

The collision was called El Casico, after Palace had lost their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with existing forests.

Palace -chairman Steve Parish has publicly discussed the role of Forest in the case and there is enormous hostility in the field of luminaire, with extra police support.

Hill Dickinson Era starts for Everton

Everton will hope to breathe optimism back in their season after an empty start at Leeds on Monday evening. A very first competitive competition in the new Hill Dickinson Stadium of the club should create a nice atmosphere, with Brighton the visitors in a historic fixture.

David Moyes knows that his team needs more additions before the transfer deadline, with known errors exposed to Leeds. The lack of a right back, defensive midfielder and right winger is a reason for concern about just over a week of the remaining deadline.

Preparations will take place for the first @premierleague Matchday in our new house. 🏟️💙 pic.twitter.com/tcdvhvytyv
– Everton (@EVerton) August 21, 2025

Recruitment plans will be put on hold if Everton reveals their house with a moral reinforcement of the victory.

Time for Amorim to unleash Sesko?

Despite an encouraging performance against Arsenal, Manchester United opened the Premier League campaign with a defeat. The better side does not always win and an inability to convert opportunities into goals cost the Red Devils at Old Trafford. Introduced from the bank was Benjamin Sesko, the £ 74 million Recruit, signed to add a focal point. The Cameo of the Slovenian was quiet, but he will start in Fulham this weekend.

Ruben Amorim could unleash the 6FT 5 in goalscorer, allowing Matheus Cunha to return to a more well -known midfield role. With Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in support of Sesko, it is a combination that offers a real threat for a silk goal last season.

Newcastle tries to send the statement of Isak

Newcastle United and Liverpool have delivered a number of classic competitions over the years, and on Monday evening under the St James’ Park Lights could be another.

A collision that comes in the midst of the background of Alexander Isak’s strike, while the Swedish striker wants to develop an exit to Liverpool. Isak scored the decisive goal in last season’s final victory at Liverpool, but now wants to leave Newcastle for Anfield. He has cited ‘broken promises’ and a breakdown of his relationship with the club, although the Magpies stick to his future.

Alexander Isak shared a statement on Instagram after he was mentioned in the PFA Premier League team of the year 2025 pic.twitter.com/V8lwsdu6uv
– ESPN UK (@ESSPNUK) August 19, 2025

Liverpool’s alleged disturbing of the 25-year-old has not fallen well under the Newcastle support, which will certainly increase the decibel levels at St James. Expect a crackling atmosphere and fireworks on the field, because Newcastle seems to show Isak that they can compete with the best of the Premier League.