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11 key questions ahead of the weekend’s Premier League fixtures: Will Jose get the bird? Axe for Bravo?

Premier League fixtures

ARSENAL are coming up fast on Premier League leaders Manchester City.

A hard-fought 3-2 win against Swansea last weekend brought the Gunners level on points with Pep Guardiola's side, though behind on goal difference by one.

 Arsenal are flying high right now with six straight league wins in a row
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Arsenal are flying high right now with six straight league wins in a rowCredit: Getty Images
Sunderland

sit rock bottom of the table and are yet to record a league win this season.


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And does a clash of the titans in Chelsea v Manchester United necessarily guarantee an exciting game?

Here, SunSport picks out 11 things to look out for in the Prem this weekend.

Coming back for Mour

 Jose Mourinho could end Manchester United's winless run against Chelsea
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Jose Mourinho could end Manchester United's winless run against ChelseaCredit: PA:Press Association

JOSE MOURINHO returns to Stamford Bridge as Man United manager looking to wreak havoc on his former club.

United are without a win in their last TEN games against the Blues and it would be typical of them to break the deadlock with Chelsea's old iconic boss at the helm.

But Mourinho showed us on Monday how he plans for big games with the snore bore against Liverpool.

It would be easy not to get overly excited about this fixture.

Building Bridges

 Jose Mourinho is sure to receive a warm welcome at Stamford Bridge
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Jose Mourinho is sure to receive a warm welcome at Stamford BridgeCredit: PA:Press Association
MOURINHO is likely to receive a hero's welcome when he walks out onto the pitch on Sunday.

The Portuguese delivered the title to Chelsea in 2005, their first in 50 years.

He went on to win it another two times - the following year and in 2015 - and added the FA Cup and three League Cups to the cabinet as well.

Even going to one of Chelsea's biggest rivals is unlikely to deter the Stamford Bridge faithful from singing his praises.

Forward thinking

 Diego Costa is the Premier League's top scorer at the moment with seven goals
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Diego Costa is the Premier League's top scorer at the moment with seven goalsCredit: Getty Images
 Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be looking to silence Stamford Bridge on Sunday
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be looking to silence Stamford Bridge on SundayCredit: Getty Images

MONDAY'S epic encounter between Chelsea and United brings together two of the world's biggest strikers in Diego Costa and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Costa has been on fire this season and is currently the league's top scorer on seven goals - with his strike against Leicester on Saturday adding to his tally.

Ibra enjoyed a blistering start to the English top-flight but goals have dried up for the United striker of late.

There is already bad blood between the pair, with Costa deliberately tripping Zlatan in the Champions League last season as Chelsea faced Paris Saint-Germain.

Both will be desperate to prove their superiority when they come head to head.

Taxi for Clownio?

 Claudio Bravo had a torrid time against Barcelona on Wednesday and was sent off
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Claudio Bravo had a torrid time against Barcelona on Wednesday and was sent offCredit: EPA

CLAUDIO BRAVO had an utter stinker against Barcelona.

The Manchester City keeper - brought in for his ability on the ball - passed straight to Golden Shoe winner Luis Suarez and then handled outside the box to get himself sent off.

The question now is whether Guardiola drops the error-prone stopper and plays understudy Willy Caballero instead against Southampton on Sunday.

Considering the faith Pep has shown in Bravo, it would be a huge confidence blow for the former Barca man.

Gunning for top

 Theo Walcott scored twice against Swansea as he looks to be back to his best
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Theo Walcott scored twice against Swansea as he looks to be back to his bestCredit: Getty Images

NOBODY backed them in the summer.

Arsene Wenger was once again accused of wasting the transfer window as he refused to splash out on an established superstar striker.

But Arsenal are now joint-top with big-spenders Man City - and a win against Middlesbrough on Saturday would see them move three points clear, temporarily at least.

The Gunners have won their last six Prem games and meet a Boro side who have failed to take three points in their last six.

A league of their own

 Claudio Ranieri needs to bring Leicester's Champions League form into the Prem
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Claudio Ranieri needs to bring Leicester's Champions League form into the PremCredit: Getty Images

LEICESTER'S Premier League form is in free-fall.

While they beat Copenhagen 1-0 on Tuesday to stay top of Group G in the Champions League, they are wallowing in 13th in the domestic division.

The Champions have the quality to win games - considering they won 23 in the league last season - but need the motivation to succeed again in a competition they have already conquered.

Claudio Ranieri's task is to have them replicate the same form they show in Europe in their own back yard on Saturday against Crystal Palace.

Stur the pot

 Daniel Sturridge put in a quiet performance against Manchester United on Monday
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Daniel Sturridge put in a quiet performance against Manchester United on MondayCredit: EPA

DANIEL STURRIDGE'S place in Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side could once again be under threat.

The England forward has started half of the Reds' Prem games this season but was a no-show against Man United on Monday.

Klopp shuffled the pack and brought on Adam Lallana in his place, moving Roberto Firmino into the central role, and saw a much improved attacking threat in his side.

With a home game against West Brom on Saturday, Liverpool are likely to come up against a navy blue and white wall of well-drilled defenders - and need to take any chances they create.

Bourne again Jack

 Jack Wilshere plays against his derby rivals for Bournemouth on Saturday
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Jack Wilshere plays against his derby rivals for Bournemouth on SaturdayCredit: Reuters

ARSENAL fan and loanee Jack Wilshere will find himself in an unusual situation on Saturday.

The Bournemouth midfielder faces Tottenham - his natural derby rivals - in a clash that bears no untoward feelings between either club.

Wilshere, sure to be fired up for the fixture, will find himself surrounded by cool and level-headed team-mates at Dean Court.

Goal Romp

 Romelu Lukaku is one goal behind top scorer Diego Costa in the Premier League
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Romelu Lukaku is one goal behind top scorer Diego Costa in the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty Images

ROMELU LUKAKU is sneaking up the top scorers table and threatening to snatch the Golden Boot this season.

The Everton striker has six league strikes to his name and if he nets against Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday he draws level with Chelsea striker Costa.

The Toffees' success in keeping £65million-rated Lukaku out of Blues manager Antonio Conte's hands in the summer is looking better than ever.

Black Cats running out of lives

 David Moyes needs to steer Sunderland to their first win of the season on Saturday
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David Moyes needs to steer Sunderland to their first win of the season on SaturdayCredit: Reuters

DAVID MOYES has gone past the point of desperation with Sunderland.

The Wearsiders have not won a single Premier League game this season and Moyes HAS to get them up and running by beating West Ham away on Saturday.

Both Sunderland and Newcastle failed to win in their first eight games last season - and the Toon were dumped out of the Prem come May.

Without their North East rivals to bail them out this time, the Black Cats look more and more like they have run out of lives.

Digging a Hull

 Hull have not won in six league games and need to overturn their poor form
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Hull have not won in six league games and need to overturn their poor formCredit: Getty Images

FOUR straight defeats and without a win in six spells a terrible record for the Tigers.

Mike Phelan's side may not be in the relegation zone as of yet - thanks to back-to-back league wins at the start of the season - but will be soon if they do not escape their woeful form.

You get the feeling if Hull cannot take three points against relegation scrappers Stoke at home on Saturday, they are going to seriously struggle for the rest of the campaign.

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