Champions League
Conference League
Premier League
Published on Sep, 27 2024
It is another busy weekend of English Premier League action with things getting underway with Newcastle United hosting Manchester City on Saturday and leading us all the way through until Monday's meeting between Bournemouth and Southampton. There is plenty to like in-between that with Chelsea in action at home to Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool on the road at Wolverhampton Wanderers with Manchester United's clash with Tottenham Hotspur providing the crescendo on Sunday with an encounter which could mean a lot to Erik ten Hag and Ange Postecoglou.
We look ahead to this weekend's games to keep an eye on.
This weekend gets underway when the unbeaten EPL leaders and defending champions travel to St James' Park early on Saturday. Pep Guardiola's men face the Magpies who are sixth and have only lost once all season so far while Eddie Howe's side can be tricky customers. The Citizens are a little vulnerable after losing Rodri to long-term injury and a slip-up here like in the UEFA Champions League recently could open the door to the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal or even Aston Villa. A two-game slide was ended in midweek with an EFL Cup win over Watford but City need to be wary of their form so early in the new term so this sort of road game could prove critical.
Onto the main slate of this weekend's Premier League games and the Blues in fifth will host the unbeaten Seagulls in seventh later on Saturday. There is a place near the summit at stake in this one at Stamford Bridge with Enzo Maresca or Fabian Hurzeler's outfits both vying to close the gap on the likes of City, Liverpool, Villa and Arsenal. A Chelsea win could be a very interesting development given their potential while Brighton claiming a win would add to what has already been an impressive start to life under the German tactician who was born in the U.S.
Later on the Saturday, it is the turn of rock bottom Wolves to be hungry for some points as the Reds visit Molineux in the final game of the day. Coming into this weekend, there is just one point to make up on City -- which could be four come kick-off -- and Aston Villa, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle are all too close for comfort for Arne Slot's team. The hosts are under pressure but have not been as bad as their position suggests but Gary O'Neil could be in trouble if this ends in another defeat which makes it a potential trap game for a Liverpool side that was already stunned by Nottingham Forest a few weeks ago.
There is no doubt about the biggest game of this weekend and that is the battle between 11th and 10th in the EPL table at Old Trafford on Sunday. Once Villa have taken on Ipswich Town, Erik ten Hag will need a result more than ever after another European setback in midweek after the Red Devils' draw with Twente. This makes getting the better of Ange Postecoglou's Spurs -- also under pressure but not necessarily as much -- of major importance for the Dutch tactician as he seeks to turn the tide in his favor despite often not helping himself in this regard. A potential winner from this can be relaunched towards European contention but the loser will be asked some serious questions regarding their direction of travel.
This weekend's Premier League slate comes to a close with a cheeky little south coast derby on Monday evening. Saints are seeking their first three-point haul of the season against a Cherries side averaging one point per game after just one win so far. Three points on either side will make a difference, pushing Bournemouth into the top half or Southampton out of the relegation zone. A draw helps neither but a loss and things look even tougher than they already did coming into this game week.
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