Sunday 23 August 2015 21:59, UK
Ahead of the third round of games in the 2015/16 Premier League season, we take a look at 10 questions that could be answered by the end of the weekend.
Can Wayne Rooney find his form for Manchester United? (Manchester United v Newcastle - Saturday, 12.45pm)
Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney seems to be in a sticky patch at the moment.
After playing in midfield for much of last season, he has so far been deployed up front by manager Louis van Gaal, but is yet to find the net. United now host Newcastle, and Rooney will be wanting to get back to scoring goals as soon as possible.
The England international grabbed a double the last time Newcastle visited Old Trafford on Boxing Day last year, and he will be hoping for more of the same at lunchtime on Saturday.
Can Jordan Ayew follow in his older brother's footsteps? (Crystal Palace v Aston Villa - Saturday, 3pm)
Two Ayews joined the Premier League over the summer, but while older brother Andre has hit the ground running at Swansea, scoring twice in two games so far, younger sibling Jordan has had a far quieter start to his career in England.
Villa's striker began the campaign with a largely ineffective 59 minutes away at Bournemouth, before his replacement Rudy Gestede thumped home the winning header, then again rarely threatened Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero as Tim Sherwood's side fell to a 1-0 defeat last Friday night.
It is still early days, of course, and Ayew still has plenty of time to get himself going at Villa Park. But he'll be hoping it is third time lucky at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Is Harry Kane ready to lead the Spurs line? (Leicester City v Tottenham - Saturday, 3pm)
Harry Kane is not fit enough, or so it was declared by Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino after last week's 2-2 draw at home to Stoke.
The England striker was withdrawn after 64 minutes at White Hart Lane last week, with his side two goals up and cruising, before the late collapse saw them throw away a couple of points.
Clinton N'Jie has arrived in the meantime from Lyon, but Pochettino admitted this week that he is still looking to strengthen his squad offensively. Leicester have started brilliantly and will provide a major test for Tottenham, especially if their chief threat Kane still isn't match fit.
Will Xherdan Shaqiri star for Stoke? (Norwich City v Stoke - Saturday, 3pm)
Xherdan Shaqiri, 23 years old, with 46 Switzerland caps and a World Cup hat-trick to his name, was at Bayern Munich less than nine months ago, but now finds himself, via a short stint at Inter Milan, preparing for his Stoke City debut at Carrow Road.
It's quite the coup for Mark Hughes' side, and the Potters could soon be enjoying the link-up play of two men, including Ibrahim Afellay, who were both once deemed fit to be signed by two of the biggest clubs in the world. Those Rory Delap long throws into the path of Mamady Sidibe are starting to seem like a very long time ago at the Britannia Stadium.
While it's understandable that he couldn't find his way into Bayern's talent-packed first-team, it is not unreasonable to raise questions over why his time at Inter went sour so quickly. But if Shaqiri hits the ground running at Norwich, and goes on to display his incredible potential this season, then Stoke fans won't care one jot.
Can Sunderland bounce back from their terrible start? (Sunderland v Swansea - Saturday, 3pm)
There must have been a time, in mid-June just after the Premier League fixtures for this season had been released, when Sunderland may have thought that finally everything was going to be okay.
They were still riding high from another unlikely survival from relegation, had a manager in Dick Advocaat that the fans adored, and had just been drawn to Leicester and Norwich in their two opening games.
Swansea, with the possible exception of Manchester City and Leicester, have been the most impressive side of 2015/16 so far, and nothing in the first 180 minutes played by the two sides suggests the Black Cats will get anything at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. Another defeat and Advocaat may be wishing he'd walked away when he said he would.
Can Bournemouth break their duck? (West Ham v Bournemouth - Saturday, 3pm)
Tommy Elphick scored Bournemouth's first-ever top-flight goal against Liverpool at Anfield on Monday night, only for it to be ruled out by the referee for a foul on Dejan Lovren.
So the wait goes on for the Cherries to find the net, and there is little doubt they will need a lot more from Callum Wilson up front if they are to get it.
The 23-year-old struck 20 times in the Championship last season, but will need to adapt to the Premier League very quickly if Eddie Howe's side are to have any hope of staying up.
Will Pedro provide relief for Jose Mourinho? (West Brom v Chelsea - Sunday, 1.30pm)
Chelsea clinched the signing of Pedro from Barcelona earlier this week in a deal believed to be around £21million.
It is a signing that might just bring a bit of relief to manager Jose Mourinho, given the difficult start to the campaign both on and off the field.
The Spaniard arrives at Chelsea with a lot to prove, as his time at Barca was frustrating. Pedro can play both as a winger or a centre forward, his diminutive figure enables him to be extremely fast and have a low centre of gravity. Chelsea fans should be excited.
Can the Toffees handle the heat of Manchester City? (Everton v Manchester City - Sunday, 4pm)
Everton might have the fortune of being one of the last teams this season to deal with a Kevin de Bruyne-free Manchester City front line.
But even before the Belgium's apparently destined move to the Etihad Stadium next week, the Toffees will have plenty to cope with at Goodison Park on Sunday. City have started this season in superb style, as the brilliance of David Silva, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero (against Chelsea) in particular have put £49m Raheem Sterling slightly into the shade.
And whether or not it's John Stones' final appearance in an Everton shirt at Goodison Park also remains to be seen.
Have the wheels finally come off at Southampton? (Watford v Southampton - Sunday, 4pm)
Last season, with all consigning Southampton to relegation after having the core ripped out of their squad, Ronald Koeman came in and surpassed all expectations with a highly-impressive finish of seventh that secured their qualification for the Europa League.
There is surely only so long, however, that a team can continue selling all their best players and continue to make progress. Already Nathaniel Clyne and Morgan Schneiderlin have moved on this summer, and Manchester United, not entirely satisfied with acquiring just the latter, appear to be moving for Sadio Mane as well.
Results have suffered so far, and a salvaged point at Newcastle on opening day was followed by a 3-0 thumping at home to Everton. Progression to the Europa League group stage now also appears in the balance after a 1-1 draw with Midtjylland in the first leg of their play-off on Thursday night.
Three points at Watford would be a good response, but Quique Flores' unbeaten side will have had eight days to rest and prepare for a tilt at their first Premier League win since 2007.
Who will step into the shoes of Jordan Henderson? (Arsenal v Liverpool - Monday, 8pm)
For so many years, it was a question of how Liverpool would cope without their talismanic captain if Steven Gerrard was injured.
The new man with the armband, Jordan Henderson, has an awfully long way to go to get anywhere near replicating the achievements of his predecessor, but his absence will still be sorely felt should he miss the trip to the Emirates Stadium on Monday night with injury.
Emre Can can step in, as he did against Bournemouth on Monday night at Anfield, but Liverpool with Henderson are a far more impressive proposition than without him, and Arsenal could easily take advantage in the middle at the Emirates.
Follow the Premier League on Sky Sports this weekend. Watch Soccer Saturday from 12pm on Sky Sports News HQ and Sky Sports 5 HD, then catch West Brom v Chelsea (12.30pm) and Everton v Man City (3.30pm) on Super Sunday on Sky Sports 1 HD, with Arsenal v Liverpool the Monday Night Football game (7pm). Not a subscriber? Get a Sky Sports Pass from NOW TV from just £6.99.
