The English Premier League is back with a bang this weekend, with a full set of fixtures off the back of the first international football break of the new season.
It’s the North London Derby that takes centre stage on Sunday, with old foes Tottenham and Arsenal locking horns in just the fourth match week of the campaign.
Gunners coach Mikel Arteta signed a new contract to extend his Emirates Stadium stay during the break and he now looks to build a third successive EPL title charge, while Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou could do without a second loss of the new term in front of an expectant home crowd.
It was Newcastle that handed Tottenham their first loss a fortnight ago.
They take part in Sunday’s other match away to Wolves, with Eddie Howe’s men boasting seven points from a possible nine while the hosts have only a point to their name so far.
Saturday brings a whopping eight Premier League games in a jam-packed programme, kicking off with the lunchtime fixture which sees Manchester United travel to Southampton.
The Saints are pointless so far, but it’s a mark of the poor start made by Erik ten Hag’s side that they would drop below the south coast club should they slump to a third league defeat at St Mary’s Stadium.
And it’s a spookily similar case of affairs just along the coast at Bournemouth for the Saturday night contest between Bournemouth and Chelsea.
The Blues could use a win to improve on their own inconsistent start – and to distract from the boardroom wrangling that has followed yet another eye-popping transfer splurge – while the Cherries have an unbeaten record to maintain at the Vitality Stadium.
All is serene at the top of the EPL table, meanwhile, with familiar contenders Manchester City and Liverpool the last two sides to have a 100% record.
And few would bet against that remaining the case after their respective home matches on Saturday afternoon.
The reigning champions will have to be on their mettle at the Etihad Stadium, though, with Brentford making the trip to the north west having won two from three.
Arne Slot knows his Reds are in for a similar Anfield challenge when they welcome Nottingham Forest, who have upset the odds by remaining unbeaten despite their relegation worries last season.
While the red half of Merseyside is basking in the sunlit uplands, the blue half is mired in the grimly familiar doom of the Premier League basement.
Without a point and having shipped ten goals already this season, Everton boss Sean Dyche is feeling the heat while also attempting to black out the eternal ownership drama blighting the club’s long farewell to their iconic Goodison Park stadium.
And it doesn’t get any easier on the pitch either, with their next assignment a trip to Aston Villa, who have won two from three as they galvanize themselves for the thrill of a Uefa Champions League tilt under boss Unai Emery.
A derby brings together clubs from either end of the London Underground’s District Line but next door neighbours in the nascent EPL standings, as Fulham host West Ham.
Both the Cottagers and the Hammers have been models of inconsistencies to date, with this Craven Cottage clash an opportunity for one to nudge up into the top half of the table.
Brighton have loftier ambitions than that, coming into the weekend third in the standings, unbeaten and in fine form under wunderkind new coach Fabian Hurzeler.
The German’s British equivalent, Kieran McKenna, is in the opposition dugout at the Amex Stadium this weekend, bringing his promoted Ipswich side who picked up the first point of their Premier League return before the international break.
That leaves Crystal Palace and Leicester, who meet at Selhurst Park with just a goal in the scored column to separate the pair.
Both the Eagles and the Foxes have only a single point after their opening three games, with that vital opening win becoming increasingly important as Autumn looms.
EPL Predictions for this weekend
Southampton vs Manchester United
Result prediction: draw
Over/Under prediction: under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: Southampton / draw
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: n/a
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Ipswich Town
Result prediction: Brighton & Hove Albion to win
Over/Under prediction: under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: draw / Brighton & Hove Albion to win
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: D. Welbeck(Brighton & Hove Albion)
Crystal Palace vs Leicester City
Result prediction: Crystal Palace to win
Over/Under prediction: over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: Crystal Palace / Crystal Palace to win
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: J. Mateta(Crystal Palace)
E. Eze(Crystal Palace)
Fulham vs West Ham United
Result prediction: draw
Over/Under prediction: under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: Fulham / draw
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: n/a
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest
Result prediction: Liverpool to win
Over/Under prediction: over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: Liverpool / Liverpool to win
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: Mohamed Salah(Liverpool)
L. Díaz(Liverpool)
C. Wood(Nottingham Forest)
Manchester City vs Brentford
Result prediction: Manchester City to win
Over/Under prediction: over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: Manchester City / Manchester City to win
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: E. Haaland(Manchester City)
Y. Wissa(Brentford)
B. Mbeumo(Brentford)
Aston Villa vs Everton
Result prediction: Aston Villa to win
Over/Under prediction: under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: draw / Aston Villa to win
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: J. Durán(Aston Villa)
AFC Bournemouth vs Chelsea
Result prediction: Chelsea to win
Over/Under prediction: over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: Chelsea / Chelsea to win
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: N. Madueke(Chelsea)
Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal
Result prediction: Tottenham Hotspur to win
Over/Under prediction: over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: Tottenham Hotspur / Tottenham Hotspur to win
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: K. Havertz(Arsenal)
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Newcastle United
Result prediction: Newcastle United to win
Over/Under prediction: over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: Newcastle United / Newcastle United to win
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: n/a
Fixtures
Southampton vs Man Utd 13:30
Brighton vs Ipswich 16:00
Crystal Palace vs Leicester 16:00
Fulham vs West Ham 16:00
Liverpool vs Nottm Forest 16:00
Man City vs Brentford 16:00
Aston Villa vs Everton 18:30
Bournemouth vs Chelsea 21:00