CHELSEA
Securing help for Hazard
Chelsea are controlling matches impressively, but a lack of reliable goal-scorers and their misfiring strikers threaten to derail a fledgling title challenge. Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata have each made four league starts and three substitute appearances but scored two goals between them. Eden Hazard is in imperious form, but unless their centre-forwards start to pick up the slack they will need the Belgian to carry a hitherto unseen goal threat.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Unearthing a Plan B
After a bright start, Palace's season is in danger of falling flat. Seven points from eight games - only one of which was against one of last season's top four - is a serious concern, especially with a daunting run of fixtures coming up. Internecine squabbling between the club and a high-profile fans' group, the Holmesdale Ultras, has punctured Selhurst Park's atmosphere. When Wilfried Zaha is crowded out there is a conspicuous lack of Plan B.
EVERTON
Replacing Lukaku (still)
Everton's problem this season is the same as last. They need a No 9. Romelu Lukaku was not replaced. Cenk Tosun works hard, but is not top-six quality. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is still a work in progress. Oumar Niasse is not a Premier League standard striker. Richarlison was successfully converted into a No 9 at Leicester, but it is not ideal as he offers a threat in a deeper role. Everton's scouts must find the solution. Until a top quality striker is found results will continue to be inconsistent.
FULHAM
Finding right balance
Fulham need to either strengthen their attacking prowess or lessen their weaknesses in defence. Too often they have been flimsy at the back, while their attacking patterns have not been quite good enough to make the difference up front. Can Slavisa Jokanovic find a way of solidifying his defence without compromising on his attacking ambitions? They might get away with it at Cardiff tomorrow, given all five of Fulham's points this season have come against teams who are more direct in their play (Burnley, Brighton and Watford).
HUDDERSFIELD
Improvement at both ends
The problem with pulling off miracles is everybody expects you to be able to do it again and Huddersfield manager David Wagner is learning how taxing that can be. He is not under the sort of pressure that other managers would be after failing to win a game - and deservedly so - but problems are mounting. Huddersfield's main dilemma is how can they combine defensive solidity with an attacking threat. They are failing to do both.
LEICESTER
Defensive changes
Claude Puel spent nearly £35 million on centre-halves but has still persisted with Wes Morgan, sent off for the second time in three Premier League games before the international break. While Morgan deserves respect for his service over the years, such loyalty from Puel does raise suspicions over why Jonny Evans, Caglar Soyuncu and Filip Benkovic (the latter loaned to Celtic) were brought in at such expense. Evans should be the one who finally gets a chance at Arsenal on Monday.
LIVERPOOL
New signings stepping up
When Naby Keita and Fabinho were signed, there was a presumption two-thirds of Liverpool's first-choice midfield was in place. It has not worked that way. Neither has fully adjusted to the Premier League, and while Jurgan Klopp will give them all the time necessary, he cannot afford to wait too long if Liverpool are to stay in the title race. Keita and Fabinho must also be aware that Adam Lallana is eager to return to offer the missing attacking link from midfield, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will hope to defy expectations he will miss the season.
MANCHESTER CITY
Getting back De Bruyne
Pep Guardiola's first concern will be the fitness of his squad after the international break. He has already had a number of injury set-backs this term but the City manager will be eager to see whether Kevin De Bruyne has recovered as he prepares to welcome back the Belgium midfielder following a knee injury that has restricted him to just half an hour of football. De Bruyne's return will be a huge fillip and Guardiola will hope it helps to galvanise his team.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Finding a settled backline
The spotlight has been so intense on Jose Mourinho and United that he probably welcomed the respite of the international break but, given how shambolic his defence looked in the 3-2 win over Newcastle, he will need to use the time wisely to come up with a way of trying to limit the influence of Eden Hazard ahead of the visit to Stamford Bridge tomorrow. United's backline looks incredibly susceptible to pace and quick movement and Mourinho's persistent chopping and changing at centre-half only seems to be exacerbating the problem.
NEWCASTLE
Ignoring boardroom woe
What happens in the January transfer window will not only have a huge bearing on Newcastle's ability to avoid the drop, it will also effectively decide whether Rafael Benitez is going to sign a new contract. If Benitez gets the players he wants with the sort of financial backing from owner Mike Ashley that he seeks, then it should be relatively easy to persuade him to sign the contract extension in February. The problem, however, is that by the time January rolls around, Newcastle could be in deep trouble.
SOUTHAMPTON
Closing out wins
"Getting over the line" has not just been a huge problem recently for Southampton but also manager Mark Hughes. Including matches at Stoke City, he has won only eight games in his last 38 in the Premier League. Southampton have themselves dropped 13 points from winning positions since Hughes became manager. After leading 2-0 against Brighton, they have also conceded 10 Premier League goals without scoring and really must now work on how to see out games.
TOTTENHAM
Reigniting Eriksen
Christian Eriksen has been absent since the end of September with an abdominal injury, but was below his best during the early weeks of the season before that set-back. Mauricio Pochettino's team are not replete with creativity and invention, so rely on Eriksen to be the oil in their engine. His first six league starts of the season yielded just two assists and no goals. A minimum standard of intensity is a given with Spurs, but without Eriksen purring they can appear a touch blunt and unsubtle.
WATFORD
Rediscovering their grit
In the space of four weeks, Watford's defensive solidity has been replaced by worrying fragility. In their first five games this season, Javi Gracia's side conceded only three goals. In the five games since, they have let in 11, including four at home to Bournemouth. They were not helped against Bournemouth by the dismissal of centre-back Christian Kabasele, and they will also be without the suspended Jose Holebas for the trip to Wolves. Gracia will need to find a new defensive formula.
WEST HAM
Finding a role for Wilshere
With Jack Wilshere due to return to full training, Manuel Pellegrini faces a difficult decision regarding how best to employ him. Or perhaps it is not too difficult, given that West Ham have looked far more balanced without the former Arsenal midfielder. Clairvoyance was not necessary to foresee that Wilshere and Mark Noble would not provide adequate protection and athleticism in central midfield. The introduction of Declan Rice and Pedro Obiang has improved matters, providing a platform for West Ham's excellent front three.
WOLVES
Controlling expectations
Nuno Espirito Santo's Wolves continue to be on an upward curve and already supporters are chanting about European tours. After six Premier League games unbeaten, optimism is building and Wolves should realistically be targeting seventh, or even sixth, as a possible finish. All this hyperbole and positivity will be abhorrent for Nuno, however, who will face a huge battle to keep a lid on such expectations.
