EPL SPOTLIGHT: Your move, Pep...

MANAGER TO WATCH: Pep Guardiola (West Brom v MANCHESTER CITY, Oct 29, 10pm)

"I'm proud of the young players and how they played. At that level you need to be more clinical with the last pass but it's difficult against United. We are happy. I want to try to win but now we'll focus on the next competitions."

Sure Josep, but losing a cup game to your fiercest rivals with a weakened team is a gamble that only pays off if you win your next match.

It's an even bigger gamble when your side is searching for a morale booster amid a six-game winless streak and your next match is a tricky visit to the Hawthorns for what will surely be a bruising game against Tony Pulis' West Brom.

 

 

PLAYER TO WATCH: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (MANCHESTER UNITED v Burnley, Oct 29, 10pm)

PHOTO: REUTERS

Victory over Manchester City in the League Cup might have earned Manchester United a temporary reprieve over their indifferent form, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic's (picture) goal drought continues.

After taking to life in the Premier League like a duck to water with four goals in his first four games, the imposing Swede has drawn a blank in his last five EPL matches.

With Burnley coming to Old Trafford after a tough run of recent fixtures for United, the 35-year-old has to hit the goal trail again if the Red Devils are to make up for the precious ground they've lost in the title race.

 

 

MATCH TO WATCH: Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City (Oct 29, Saturday, 10pm)

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino. PHOTO: AFP

It's the clash of last season's two main title contenders - but their fortunes this season couldn't be any more contrasting.

While the Foxes are enjoying their debut season in the Champions League, the champions find themselves in 12th place, struggling to replicate the consistency that earned them the title.

As for Spurs, who for most of last season looked like the only title rivals for Leicester only to inexplicably finish third behind Arsenal, they are the only unbeaten team in the league and are just a point behind leaders Manchester City.

Three points will certainly do a world a good for either team - with Claudio Ranieri desperate to build on their win over Crystal Palace last week while Mauricio Pochettino will surely be smelling the opportunity to top the table if their rivals slip up this weekend.

SCREENSHOT: TWITTER / @UNILADFOOTY

TEAM TO WATCH: Chelsea (v Southampton, Oct 31, 12am)

PHOTO: AFP

Following three league wins on the trot capped by the 4-0 thrashing of Man United last week, it looks like Chelsea have bounced back superbly from their forgettable September.

Antonio Conte's switch to a back three has certainly worked out well for Blues, who have only conceded twice in the month of October during their League Cup loss to West Ham.

With opponents Southampton in good form of their own, Stamford Bridge should play host to one of the weekend's more entertaining encounters.

 

 

UNDERDOGS TO WATCH: Sunderland (v Arsenal, Oct 29, 7.30pm)

David Moyes (right) is still looking for his first league win with Sunderland. PHOTO: REUTERS

Still searching for their first win against Premier League opposition under David Moyes, Sunderland are up against Arsene Wenger's high-flying Arsenal.

This isn't going to end well for the league's bottom side, is it?