LONDON, Feb 8, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - New-look Newcastle take on Frank Lampard's
Everton on Tuesday after splashing the cash in the January transfer window as
the Premier League gears up for a first full programme of matches after the
winter break.

  Bottom-club Burnley host Manchester United while Manchester City will seek
to return to winning ways against Brentford after a rare off-day against
Southampton last month.

  AFP Sport takes a look at some of the talking points ahead of the midweek
action. No excuses for Howe

  Newcastle became one of the richest clubs in the world when they were
bought in October by a group led by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund but
initially they could do little with their money.

  The January transfer window was always likely to be make or break for the
Magpies, who have just two Premier League wins all season and remain stuck in
the relegation zone.

  Newcastle were the biggest spenders last month, spending about œ85 million
($115 million) to bring in Lyon midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, Burnley forward
Chris Wood and three defenders -- Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Matt Targett
-- to boost a leaky defence.

  For all their problems, Eddie Howe's side are just one point from safety,
with Burnley and Watford, either side of Newcastle in the drop zone,
struggling to find the wins they desperately need.

  But Tuesday's game will be a tough one.

  Ex-Chelsea boss Lampard started his Everton reign with an impressive 4-1
win at home to Brentford in the FA Cup and is equally desperate for the
points. Can Rangnick make Man Utd purr?

  Manchester United looked like they had at last found some rhythm under
interim manager Ralf Rangnick in the early stages of Friday's FA Cup tie
against Middlesbrough before they lost their way and exited on penalties.

  United wasted a glut of golden chances in the fourth-round match and paid
the price when the Championship side equalised.

  Rangnick's side still look less than the sum of their parts two months
after he took charge at Old Trafford, even though he was surprisingly upbeat
about their performance against Boro.

  The German has thinned out his bloated squad, allowing forward Anthony
Martial and Donny van de Beek to leave on loan but the club are also now
without the suspended Mason Greenwood, who was arrested last week on
suspicion of the rape and assault of a woman before being bailed.

  For all their attacking riches, United have scored 19 goals fewer than
Premier League leaders Manchester City this season and have struggled to kill
off teams.

  Winning the Champions League appears unlikely, making it vital that United
finish in the top four.

  Rangnick believes they are going in the right direction but they must find
their mojo soon. Arsenal short of firepower

  Arsenal are in the mix to qualify for the Champions League after an absence
of five seasons but do they have the firepower to get them over the line?

  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has now left the club to join Barcelona after a
troubled last few months at the Emirates, leaving Alexandre Lacazette and
Eddie Nketiah as the only senior forward options.

  Lacazette has scored just three times in the league while Nketiah, yet to
start a league game, has yet to get off the mark.

  Manager Mikel Arteta, whose side travel to Wolves on Thursday, says his
squad has the right amount of quality and experience and is confident they
can finish the season on a high.

  "We are really looking forward to (the run-in)," he said. "We know what the
aim is at the end of the season, where we want to be -- it's high but it's
possible and we're going to have a real go in the second half of the season
to achieve it."

  Arteta will look to Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka to chip in regularly
but he may come to regret his lack of options in attack.

  Fixtures (1945 GMT unless stated)

  Tuesday

  Newcastle v Everton, West Ham v Watford, Burnley v Manchester United (2000)

  Wednesday

  Manchester City v Brentford, Norwich v Crystal Palace, Tottenham v
Southampton, Aston Villa v Leeds (2000)

  Thursday

  Liverpool v Leicester, Wolves v Arsenal