PREVIEWS, TABLES, FIXTURES AND STATS
WATFORD V LIVERPOOL SATURDAY, 12.30PM, BT SPORT
Liverpool take their unbeaten start to the season to Vicarage Road where their hopes of going an entire Premier League campaign without losing were ended in February 2020. Ismaila Sarr scored twice in Watford’s 3-0 win that neither prevented Jurgen Klopp’s side from winning the title nor saved the Hornets’ top-flight skins. Watford will hope the Claudio Ranieri they unveil as boss tomorrow resembles more Leicester’s title-winner than the later version who steered Fulham towards the drop.
MATCH STAT WATFORD HAVE CHANGED BOSSES 14 TIMES SINCE 2012 UNDER THE POZZO FAMILY
ASTON VILLA V WOLVES SATURDAY, 3PM
Wolves are aiming for a third away win in a row, with Bruno Lage’s side likely to start Adama Traore in attack, with Francisco Trincao having gone down with Covid-19 during the international break. Rival defenders Tyrone Mings and Conor Coady have struck up a solid friendship on England duty but return to club colours for a game that should see Villa boss Dean Smith welcome Leon Bailey and Morgan Sanson back into his squad after injury, although a thigh problem is likely to keep Bertrand Traore out.
MATCH STAT WOLVES HAVE WON FOUR OF THEIR LAST SEVEN PREMIER LEAGUE MEETINGS WITH VILLA
LEICESTER V MAN UNITED SATURDAY, 3PM
With United having suffered a slump before the international break, boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not need central defender Raphael Varane, who limped out of France’s Nations League final win over Spain, joining Harry Maguire on the sidelines. Cristiano Ronaldo’s star was not dimmed, though, winning the Premier League’s player-of-the-month award. Meanwhile, Jamie Vardy must be wondering how he has scored four goals in Leicester’s last three games and still not managed to finish on the winning side.
MATCH STAT LEICESTER’S LAST TWO GAMES WERE 2-2 DRAWS, AS WAS THIS FIXTURE LAST SEASON
MAN CITY V BURNLEY SATURDAY, 3PM
Manchester City 5 Burnley 0. If that score looks familiar it’s because it has been inflicted on Sean Dyche’s side on their last four visits. Indeed, City’s last eight league and cup games against the Clarets have been won by an aggregate 30-1. While City produced some sublime football in a 2-2 draw at Liverpool a fortnight ago, Dyche’s side are fighting to stay among the elite having taken just three points from eight games so far, but Connor Roberts may feature for the first time after helping Wales to beat Estonia on Tuesday. MATCH STAT BURNLEY HAVE GONE EXACTLY 100 PREMIER LEAGUE GAMES WITHOUT A SENDING OFF
NORWICH V BRIGHTON SATURDAY, 3PM
Norwich are at least off the mark thanks to the point from their goalless draw at Burnley two weeks ago and are hoping a newly unveiled training simulator can kick-start their season. In fairness, Daniel Farke’s side have a different look to the one that sank without trace two seasons ago. Graham Potter’s great strides as Brighton coach have seen him linked with the Newcastle job, although former Seagulls captain and boss Brian Horton warned: ‘He will never get a better owner than [Albion’s] Tony Bloom, ever.’ MATCH STAT NORWICH ARE THE ONLY SIDE YET TO TAKE THE LEAD IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE THIS SEASON
A NEW era kicks off on Tyneside which, we are led to believe, will see Newcastle becoming part of English football’s elite and winning the Premier League.
The ethics of being funded by the Saudi state are quite properly receiving scrutiny but the Geordies are daring to dream after 14 years during which their discontent with Mike Ashley’s ownership reached a crescendo.
But while St James’ Park will be a scene of celebration for the visit of Tottenham on Sunday, even the most optimistic Newcastle fan can’t expect miracles just yet.
The team who take the field will be the side who sit one place off the bottom of the Premier League, having failed to win so far and conceded a joint division-high of 16 goals from seven games.
And should manager Steve Bruce still be in position to take his place on the sidelines – and the fact he is expected to take today’s pre-match press conference suggests that will be the case – he may feel like a gatecrasher at his own party, a game which in
other circumstances would be a celebration of his 1,000th game as a manager.
Given the fact Magpies supporters have never warmed to him, citing him as Ashley’s stooge, his former Sunderland links and the style of football under his watch, Bruce’s longevity may go under-appreciated.
However, there is no doubt Newcastle have attempted to be more expansive this season with Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron in particular providing some attacking dynamism to get spectators on their feet.
Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo was also coming under scrutiny after three consecutive defeats – including a humbling 3-1 reverse at Arsenal – followed three straight victories and with striker Harry Kane still to get off the mark in the Premier League.
A 2-1 win over Aston Villa stopped the rot, with Heung-min Son providing two assists, although Nuno may have been over-egging the quality of his side a bit when he said: ‘We have talented players and when they are confident, they are unstoppable.’
SOUTHAMPTON V LEEDS SATURDAY, 3PM
Saints must do without their captain James Ward-Prowse for the first time in 103 Premier League games after his red card against Chelsea. While Leeds secured a much-needed first win of the season when they beat Watford a fortnight ago – the 1-0 victory Diego Llorente gave them doing scant justice to their dominance – Saints are still looking to get off the mark, although Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side do have a much more inviting run of fixtures coming up.
MATCH STAT LEEDS HAVE 14 PREMIER LEAGUE WINS OVER SAINTS, THEIR MOST AGAINST ONE CLUB
BRENTFORD V CHELSEA SATURDAY, 5.30PM, SKY SPORTS
Chelsea can become the first team to win seven consecutive away London derbies should they beat Brentford. That may be easier said than done for Thomas Tuchel’s Premier League leaders with Bees unbeaten in their first three games against capital rivals since winning promotion. What’s more, the appointment of Anthony Taylor as referee has riled Chelsea fans. He has given five penalties against the Blues in the 11 games he has taken charge of them and they have won just twice.
MATCH STAT BRENTFORD HAVE SCORED 14 GOALS IN THEIR LAST FOUR GAMES IN ALL COMPETITIONS EVERTON V WEST HAM SUNDAY, 2PM, SKY SPORTS
David Moyes takes his Hammers to former club Everton having had a fortnight to mull over Yoane Wissa’s injury-time winner for Brentford at the London Stadium. It might not be a bad time to be returning to Goodison Park, with Everton forwards Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison both likely to miss out through injury and doubts over Fabian Delph, Andre Gomes and Seamus Coleman. However, Andros Townsend has been a revelation, with three goals and two assists in his seven Toffees appearances so far.
MATCH STAT EVERTON HAVE WON 27 OF THE 50 PREMIER LEAGUE MEETINGS BETWEEN THE SIDES
ARSENAL V CRYSTAL PALACE MONDAY, 8PM, SKY SPORTS
Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira makes his first return to the Emirates as a manager in charge of a Crystal Palace side whose four draws from seven games belies the breath of fresh air they have brought to the Premier League this season. While Vieira has long been seen as a potential future Arsenal manager, four games without defeat – keeper Aaron Ramsdale conceding just once – have taken much of the heat off current boss Mikel Arteta, with a solid basis needed to secure a 0-0 draw at Brighton last time out. MATCH STAT PALACE HAVE WON ONE AND DRAWN TWO OF THEIR LAST THREE LEAGUE TRIPS TO ARSENAL