The September international break is (mercifully) over and we can get back to the bread and butter of Premier League football!
It’s matchweek four and a lot has changed since the last round of games: Alexander Isak is now a Liverpool player; Elliot Anderson is a shoo-in for the England World Cup squad and has a new boss at Nottingham Forest.
Here, we take a look at this weekend’s fixtures and offer some thoughts on what might happen.
SATURDAY
Arsenal v Nottingham Forest (1230)
Ange Postecoglou makes a swift return to North London as he takes his Nottingham Forest side to Arsenal. Much of the comment around the Australian’s arrival has focused on his different tactical approach to predecessor Nuno Espirito Santo but that implies Postecoglou is a novice at this managerial lark, rather than someone who has won domestic titles in Australia, Japan and Scotland.
It is unlikely too much will change in the early weeks and Forest will remain one of the better sides in the top flight. That’s not to say we’re tipping them to cause an upset at the Emirates, though.
The Gunners were surprisingly subdued at Liverpool on August 31 and will be eager to bounce back.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Nottingham Forest
Everton v Aston Villa (1500)
Villa’s struggles has been one of the surprising stories from the first three weeks. Unai Emery’s men have picked up just one point and have yet to score.
They were largely awful against Crystal Palace last time out and Emery will have spent the last fortnight pondering over his options.
Expect a response at the Hill Dickinson Stadium against an Everton side that were fortunate to beat Brighton in their last home game in the league.
Prediction: Everton 0-2 Aston Villa
Crystal Palace v Sunderland (1500)
Sunderland have made an encouraging start to life back in the Premier League but that can be caveated slightly by the fact their early fixtures were relatively kind.
A trip to Selhurst Park is their toughest test yet, although they will have noted the home side will be without injured duo Adam Wharton and Ismaila Sarr.
Palace are a slick outfit nowadays under Oliver Glasner and they should still have too much for the Wearsiders.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-0 Sunderland
Bournemouth v Brighton (1500)
Two of the best-run clubs in the Premier League meet at the Vitality Stadium with both coming in on the back of excellent results.
It says everything about their strength and presence among the elite that neither Bournemouth winning at Tottenham nor Brighton beating Manchester City seems a massive surprise.
They are also hard to separate, so we’re sitting on the fence on this one.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-1 Brighton
Fulham v Leeds (1500)
Leeds’ last visit to the capital saw them hammered 5-0 by Arsenal. Either side of that, Daniel Farke’s side have performed well and showed enough to suggest they won’t surrender their Premier League status lightly.
For Fulham, it has been a hard-luck story recently. Marco Silva is traditionally not one to shy away from criticising referees but he has good reason to after blunders in both the draw at home to Manchester United and defeat at Chelsea.
Prediction: Fulham 1-0 Leeds
Newcastle v Wolves (1500)
Wolves have made a slow start and are the only side without a point so far.
There is already a sense of nervousness at Molineux and a trip to Tyneside is unlikely to see them reduced.
Newcastle have yet to hit top gear themselves with two points on the board but this offers the perfect opportunity for Eddie Howe’s side to get up and running.
Prediction: Newcastle 3-0 Wolves
West Ham v Tottenham (1730)
Spurs were active in the final days of the transfer window and will make the short trip across London with Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani available for selection.
The defeat at home to Bournemouth halted what had been an impressive start for Spurs under Thomas Frank.
Will the real West Ham please stand up?
Are they the side that were outplayed by Sunderland and Chelsea or the team that were convincing 3-0 winners at Nottingham Forest last time out – a result that probably saved the job of Graham Potter.
Prediction: West Ham 1-3 Tottenham
Brentford v Chelsea (2000)
A rare Saturday late game in the Premier League sees another London derby at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Chelsea have maintained the momentum gained by their Club World Cup success over the summer and could make it a three-way tussle for the title this season with likely challengers Liverpool and Arsenal.
They should have too much for a Brentford side that were beaten by Wilson Isidor’s last-gasp goal at the Stadium of Light a fortnight ago.
Prediction: Brentford 0-2 Chelsea
SUNDAY
Burnley v Liverpool (1400)
Liverpool lead the way with maximum points but the general consensus is that they have yet to hit their stride.
That ought to be worrying for the rest of the league with Burnley next in their sights.
Alexander Isak may be on the bench after playing for Sweden in midweek while a little more can be expected of Florian Wirtz.
Burnley were unfortunate to lose at Manchester United in their last Premier League game but do have a 100% record at Turf Moor.
They will be tough to beat but Liverpool will have too much quality.
Prediction: Burnley 0-3 Liverpool
Manchester City v Manchester United (1630)
The match of the weekend despite both sides looking well short of their former glories.
City continue to underwhelm with many of Pep Guardiola’s new signings failing to convince that they are better, or even on an equal level, to the players that led the club to so much success previously.
If transfer policy is a problem at the Etihad, it has been an absolute shambles across the city, although in Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha there are signs that they are starting to get it right.
Cunha misses out through injury as does City’s Omar Marmoush.
A tough one to predict but we feel City may just edge it, particularly with Erling Haaland in confident mood following his five-goal haul for Norway.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United
