The English Premier League reaches matchweek seven and there’s one perfect record still standing… or is there?
Manchester City had to face the music last weekend for the first time since being found guilty of well over 100 crimes against football finance, spanning the best part of a decade and taking in a bundle of trophies.
But they found an oasis in the moral desert to register a sixth EPL win out of six to stay three points clear at the top of the table.
Whether that remains the case when they are slapped with sanctions is another matter.
In the meantime, Enzo Maresca’s men return to the safety of the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and a game against promoted Ipswich, who are going well themselves after returning to the top flight at the first time of asking.
Liverpool had cranked up the heat on City last Sunday before slumping to defeat at a vengeful Anfield.
Andoni Iraola now takes his injury-hit squad to Brentford, who sit a single point yet an improbable five places above the Reds in fourth.
Saturday’s Premier League action begins with the lunchtime kick off between Everton and Chelsea.
The pair meet at the Hill Dickinson Stadium for an enthralling match that sees fifth host sixth and a stark contrast in styles as the Blues have seen goals at both ends, while the Toffees have been typically tight under the charge of veteran David Moyes.
Bookending the day is the evening contest as Newcastle go up against Aston Villa.
It’s been something of a slog for both clubs so far this campaign as they loiter in the bottom half, although the Villans are finally beginning to perk up with four points from their last two outings.
The match up of Leeds and Manchester United means Sunday features a cross-Pennine barnstormer.
An Elland Road visit represents a tall order for Michael Carrick’s beleaguered United, who are without a win in four and going nowhere fast.
Daniel Farke’s West Yorkshire side come into the weekend seventh in the Premier League standings thanks to an excellent start, although they did taste defeat for the first time this season last time out.
Arsenal bounced back from their sole defeat with victory a week ago.
The Gunners stil alone second in the table and will fancy their chances at lowly Nottingham Forest, who have lost back-to-back EPL games and are struggling to get going since the appointment of Oliver Glasner.
And there’s one of the weirder derbies in English football on the south coast when Brighton host Crystal Palace.
It’s been a blazing start for the third-placed Seagulls, who have won three on the spin and have rattled in a league-leading 18 goals.
The Eagles are showing signs of picking up but face a stern task at the Amex Stadium against their foes from 40 miles down the road.
Coventry are beginning to make a habit of waiting until Monday night for their football fix on returning to the top flight for the first time in a generation.
They were superb in seeing off Newcastle for a second win on the bounce last weekend and now face the tantalising prospect of a jaunt to Tottenham.
Winless Spurs are in grim early form but did at least strike late to pinch a point at Manchester United a week ago to silence Old Trafford, leaving Roberto de Zerbi’s side three points back from their visitors in the early standings.
Sunday’s other Premier League fixture sees a match between a pair of unlikely European participants in Bournemouth and Sunderland.
The pair are squatting either side of the dotted line and perhaps predictably so, as they both learn to balance domestic and continental duties in Uefa competition.
Hull had made an outstanding return to the big time having come through a shock Championship play-off run amid the fallout from Southampton’s ‘Spygate’ scandal.
But they travel to London for Saturday’s other EPL match, suddenly aiming for a first win in five at Craven Cottage against rock bottom Fulham, who are yet to record three points this season.
EPL Predictions for this weekend
Everton v Chelsea
| Result prediction | Chelsea to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Chelsea / Chelsea |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Brentford v Liverpool
| Result prediction | Brentford to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Brentford / Brentford |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Fulham v Hull City
| Result prediction | Fulham to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Fulham / Fulham |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Manchester City v Ipswich Town
| 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 |
Newcastle United v Aston Villa
| 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 |
AFC Bournemouth v Sunderland
| Result prediction | AFC Bournemouth to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | AFC Bournemouth / AFC Bournemouth |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace
| 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 |
Leeds United v Manchester United
| Result prediction | Leeds United to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Leeds United / Leeds United |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
| Result prediction | Arsenal to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Arsenal / Arsenal |
| Team to Score prediction | Arsenal only |
Tottenham Hotspur v Coventry City
| Result prediction | Tottenham Hotspur to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Tottenham Hotspur / Tottenham Hotspur |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |