Can Olivier Giroud hold down a regular starting place for Chelsea?
After netting a hat trick against Sevilla in the Champions League last week, Olivier Giroud was on the score sheet yet again as he scored in Chelsea's 3-1 win over Leeds. This got me asking if he can hold down a regular starting spot if he can keep his form up. Match of the Day presenter and former England striker Gary Lineker suggested that Giroud is one of the most underrated strikers and he has a point. He's effective in that he's good in the air, holds the ball up which brings other players into the game and also scores important goals which he has done throughout his career. Yet he still doesn't get the recognition he deserves at 34 years of age after what he's achieved in the game. He's had to wait for a start with Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham being ahead of him in the pecking order and after five goals in his last two games he's showing Frank Lampard that he's still there and he can still do a job for the team when he's needed. If he can continue to score goals in the next few games, he could be the first name on the team sheet.
Can Paul Pogba finally be the player we all thought he would be?
Paul Pogba has had his fair share of criticism since he's been at United but after a good performance against West Ham on Saturday, can he finally be the player we all he would be? Pogba returned to United for a then world record fee of £89 million back in 2016 from Juventus and hasn't always delivered. He's shown off glimpses of his talent but not on a consistent basis like we're all expecting to because of his price tag. Against West Ham, he really showed what a player he can be by always looking to play a good pass, making bursting runs forward and scoring a brilliant goal even though the ball appeared to be out of play in the build up. He was always looking to set United off on attacks and was given the freedom to do what he wanted to throughout the game against West Ham. If he can continue to play like that week in week out, we could see Pogba we see when he plays for France.
Is Christian Benteke back to his best?
Christian Benteke has had a tough time at Palace over the last few seasons with only five goals scored in the last three seasons. But after after netting twice in the Eagles' 5-1 win at West Brom, is the Belgian back to his best? The reasons for Benteke's struggles in front of goal could be down to a lack of confidence and a lack of form because he wasn't putting away chances you were expecting him to put away and he wasn't being effective in the final third by being a nuisance for defenders like he was when he was at Aston Villa. Against West Brom he stayed in the middle of the pitch and by doing that he got his goals which is what any no.9 would do. He also linked up with Wilfried Zaha and Eberechi Eze at various times during the match which he wasn't doing before and that played a key part in Palace's impressive win. If he can continue scoring goals like he did on Sunday, we'll see if the old Benteke is back.
Are Sheffield United down already?
Sheffield United appear to be heading for relegation having only picked up one point in 11 games. Blades were beaten for the sixth game in a row on Sunday as they lost 2-1 at home to Leicester leaving them in a precarious position in the table. They've lost all but one of their games and are yet to win this season with manager Chris Wilder under pressure to get results. I asked a few weeks ago if he was under pressure and I think he is because of where they are in the league and how many points adrift they are. Their main problem this season has been scoring goals and despite scoring against Leicester, they still missed chances that they were expected to put away like the one Oliver Burke had in the first half. Not scoring goals means one thing: Relegation. They need to start picking up points or they will have a huge mountain to climb.
Could we have a three way title race?
In what has been a crazy season, the top of the Premier League looks very close with Spurs and Liverpool joints top and Chelsea only two points behind them in third. Those three teams are looking the strongest at the moment because of the position they're in and the way they've been playing so far this season. Spurs have looked solid in defence and in midfield plus they have Harry Kane and Heung Min Son doing the business for them at the top end of the pitch in terms of goals and assists. Liverpool despite their injury troubles have done reasonably well to be in the position they find themselves in because they've been without Van Dijk and Alexander Arnold who have both been key players for them over the last few seasons plus Thiago has also been out and is yet to get his career at Anfield up and running. They've coped quite well without those three this season and have a strong forward line and squad depth which has been crucial to them. Chelsea have been looking contenders in the last month by being solid at the back and being free flowing up top. Their signings have been good so far and have improved the team at both ends of the pitch which is what they wanted. Like Spurs and Liverpool, they have a good squad depth which is crucial to any team challenging for the title and competing for major honours. If they can all keep doing what they're doing, we could have a three way title race come the end of the season.
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