The English Premier League makes its comeback this weekend, with fans around the world itching to put the torture of a two-week international football break behind them.
An extended pause has seen many EPL stars play up to four fixtures around the world for their respective nations.
And they’re straight back on the top flight treadmill, as Sunday’s monster match up between Liverpool and Manchester City takes top billing.
Anfield is the venue for the north west showdown, which sees Enzo Maresca’s league leaders head to the Reds, who are also unbeaten and were just starting to find their feet under new boss Andoni Iraola before the break.
Saturday lunchtime sees the Premier League return with a clash between reigning champions Arsenal and Leeds.
The Gunners had made a perfect start to their title defence until suffering a major off-day last time out.
Daniel Farke’s unbeaten visitors, meanwhile, sit pretty in fifth in the early EPL table, just three points shy of their Emirates Stadium hosts.
Manchester United and Tottenham play the evening kick off when they go head-to-head at Old Trafford.
Both have endured fraught starts to yet another campaign, with Michael Carrick’s new manager bounce having bitten the dust at the end of last season.
They have scraped together five points so far and it’s a whole heap worse for Spurs as Roberto de Zerbi attempts to turn the ship around, with the Londoners winless and bottom of the standings as another relegation scrap begins to loom.
Another pair of early stutterers are Chelsea and Bournemouth.
The pair were equally glad of a fortnight to go back to the drawing board, with the Blues winless in three and the Cherries yet to record a victory ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge.
Brentford have made a barnstorming start to top flight action once again, in the dizzy heights of fourth place as the EPL returns.
Keith Andrews takes his Bees to Aston Villa, who won at the fifth time of asking – away to sorry Spurs – two weeks ago, to take the edge off an increasingly prickly Unai Emery.
More moneyball magic has propelled Brighton to third in the Premier League, as they make the long trek north to Sunderland.
The Seagulls have won their last two and demolished reigning champs Arsenal last time out.
It’s the third in a trilogy of tricky tasks for the Stadium of Light club, who have tasted defeat against the Gunners and Manchester City in their last two outings.
Two other Sunday matches include the contest between surprise package Hull and Everton.
Both are nestled in the top half of the EPL standings with the Tigers defying the odds since their shock play-off final promotion from the Championship, while the Toffees are unbeaten despite their off-field shambles at the end of the transfer window.
Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest are both looking for a belated jump-start to their seasons when they face off at Selhurst Park.
There’s an extra edge to matters in south London, too, little over a year on from the European shenanigans that saw the Eagles demoted to the Uefa Conference League.
Monday night football sees improving Newcastle go to relegation candidates Coventry.
The Sky Blues did produce a first win for boss Frank Lampard a fortnight ago as Forest were vanquished to end a worrying start to their top flight return.
And Matthias Jaissle is beginning to get his feet under the Toon Army table following a steady introduction to EPL life, with a push up to the continental qualification places his next aim.
Saturday’s six Premier League fixtures are rounded off by the match between Ipswich and Fulham.
The Tractor Boys have won two out of five on their instant top flight comeback but it’s a different story for the Cottagers, who are yet to win since Alvaro Arbeloa replaced Marco Silva in the Craven Cottage hotseat.
EPL Predictions for this weekend
Arsenal v Leeds United
| Result prediction | Arsenal to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Arsenal / Arsenal |
| Team to Score prediction | Arsenal only |
Aston Villa v Brentford
| Result prediction | Brentford to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Brentford / Brentford |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth
| Result prediction | Chelsea to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Chelsea / Chelsea |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Ipswich Town v Fulham
| Result prediction | Fulham to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Fulham / Fulham |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Sunderland v Brighton & Hove Albion
| Result prediction | Brighton & Hove Albion to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Brighton & Hove Albion / Brighton & Hove Albion |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
| Result prediction | Manchester United to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Manchester United / Manchester United |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Hull City v Everton
| Result prediction | Everton to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Everton / Everton |
| Team to Score prediction | Everton only |
Liverpool v Manchester City
| Result prediction | Manchester City to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Manchester City / Manchester City |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Coventry City v Newcastle United
| Result prediction | Newcastle United to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Newcastle United / Newcastle United |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |