This Premier League manager could be sacked with loss in the weekend's biggest Premier League game

The Premier League festive schedule is delivering plenty of drama, and this weekend promises even more talking points.

From the mounting pressure on Tottenham boss Thomas Frank ahead of a daunting clash with Liverpool, to Aston Villa’s meeting with the unpredictable Manchester United, there’s plenty for fans to get excited about.

DAZN News’ Matt Astbury takes a look at the key storylines heading into this weekend’s Premier League games.

Spurs manager Thomas Frank could be sacked with loss to Liverpool

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Over the past few weeks, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has learnt the harsh reality of managing a ‘Big Six’ club.

With just one win in his last five games in charge of Spurs, the fanbase is growing restless with Frank and there are some calls for him to be sacked.

Sitting eleventh in the table, and six points away from the Champions League places, the panic button has not been pressed just yet, but if Spurs continue this dismal run of form, discontent will grow and Frank will likely be the first casualty.

Liverpool are also a wounded animal, but they often enjoy trips to north London and if they humiliate Spurs on their home turf, then the anger from Spurs fans will get worse and Frank could find himself without a job if the club opt for a refresh at the start of 2026.

Aston Villa look to continue impressive winning run against Manchester United

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Out of nowhere, Aston Villa are Premier League title contenders and going from strength to strength in all competitions.

A nine match winning streak could become 10 if they beat Manchester United at Villa Park on Sunday.

After the chaos of United’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth at Old Trafford, it could be an entertaining affair in the West Midlands with United an unpredictable outfit on the pitch.

However, while Villa are enjoying a rich run of form, they have not beaten United since November 2022, therefore if there is one team to halt the Villa steamroller, it would unexpectedly be Ruben Amorim and his Red Devils.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca returns to touchline amid Man City links

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One story which has sprung up out of nowhere is Chelsea's Enzo Maresca being linked with becoming the new Manchester City manager.

Earlier this week, rumours began to gather pace that Pep Guardiola will leave City at the end of the season and immediately talk turned to who will replace him.

Maresca was a frequently mentioned name following a tenure as Guardiola’s assistant at City, but he has been quick to shut down any links despite supposedly being unhappy with the Chelsea hierarchy.

The Italian will be hoping a strong performance from his team against Newcastle United in the early Saturday match can bring some brief relief when it comes to off the pitch matters, but until Guardiola confirms his managerial future, Maresca will not only have to battle opposition on the pitch, but he will also need to extinguish the City links off it.

Sunderland adjusts to life without AFCON stars

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One of the standout stories from the Premier League this season is Sunderland.

Unlike the majority of newly promoted teams, Sunderland find themselves in eighth place and exceeding expectations. But now they are set for their first real test.

The upcoming AFCON has not been kind to Sunderland with six players appearing at the tournament, including midfielder Noah Sadiki and fullback Reinildo who have played a key role in the team’s defensive efforts.

In what is the busiest period of the season, it will be interesting to see whether any players on the fringes of the Sunderland starting XI can take advantage of the opportunity they will be given and become a regular fixture, and their first test is on Saturday with a trip to Brighton and Hove Albion.

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