The English Premier League rolls into round three of fixtures for the 2022/23 season this weekend, with everything building towards a titanic north west showdown on Monday night.
Sinking ship references are appropriate enough for Manchester United, who were taken to pieces in losing 4-0 on the road last weekend to make it two defeats from the opening two matches of new boss Erik ten Hag’s stewardship.
As Cristiano Ronaldo loped off past the Dutchman he could have been forgiven for seriously questioning his career choices, not least with Liverpool next up at Old Trafford.
It’s been a far from perfect start for Jurgen Klopp’s Reds either, with the Merseysiders collecting just a pair of points so far.
An early incentive for their EPL title rivals to steal an early march ahead of the break for the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar at the end of the calendar year, then.
Reigning champions Manchester City face an intriguing test of their title mettle on Sunday when they head to St James’ Park to tackle Eddie Howe’s Newcastle.
Pep Guardiola’s men have a maximum points haul so far while the Toon Army have kicked off with a win and a draw, with the pair already the only remaining teams yet to concede in the Premier League this season.
Chelsea have also put early points on the board, despite being pegged back in a London derby last Sunday that saw coach Thomas Tuchel red-carded for a touchline bust up following the final whistle.
It hardly gets any calmer for the Blues as they travel north to take on Leeds at Fortress Elland Road on Sunday.
The other Sunday fixtures is another laced with interest, as Graham Potter’s impressive Brighton head to the London Stadium to go up against a West Ham side who are pointless so far under a frustrated David Moyes.
Arsenal are the only side other than Manchester City with two wins from two and will fancy their chances of extending that sequence in Saturday’s late kick off.
The Gunners go to promoted Bournemouth, who won on their EPL return a fortnight ago before being stuffed by City last weekend.
North London rivals Tottenham have also begun well under Antonio Conte, who was the fellow guilty party at Stamford Bridge along with home chief Tuchel, after Harry Kane’s last-gasp equaliser.
Spurs contest the Saturday lunchtime fixture with Wolves, who have yet to find their feet in the new season.
Elsewhere, a proper old school clash at Goodison Park pits Frank Lampard’s Everton against Nottingham Forest, who collected their first three points on returning to the top flight with a nervy win over West Ham last time out.
Something might well have to give in the west London derby between Fulham and Brentford, too, with both capital city clubs coming into the clash unbeaten so far.
Leicester and Southampton, meanwhile, are two teams in need of a win after last season’s unflattering campaigns have been followed by winless starts to the new term by both.
Under-pressure coaching duo Brendan Rodgers and Ralph Hasenhuttl go head-to-head at the King Power Stadium, both burdened by some unseasonal early pressure.
Selhurst Park is the venue for Saturday’s remaining EPL fixture, as league legends Patrick Vieira and Steven Gerrard go toe-to-toe with their Crystal Palace and Aston Villa teams.
English Premier League predictions for 20 – 22 August
Prediction methodology explained: The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds. For example, if a team’s odds are 2.30, the expected chance of winning is 43%. If the odds are 1.62 the expected chance of winning is 62% and so on. These are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change. Where there is no value listed, the odds were not available at the time of writing.
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Tottenham | 74 | 87 |
| Wolves | ||
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Crystal Palace | 40 | 57 |
| Aston Villa | 35 | 47 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Everton | 52 | 38 |
| Nottingham Forest | 25 | 53 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Fulham | 42 | 27 |
| Brentford | 33 | 38 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Leicester | 56 | 47 |
| Southampton | 25 | 14 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Bournemouth | ||
| Arsenal | 71 | 74 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Leeds | 17 | 1 |
| Chelsea | 65 | 69 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| West Ham | 45 | 57 |
| Brighton | 31 | 29 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Newcastle | ||
| Manchester City | 71 | 75 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Manchester United | ||
| Liverpool | 65 | 60 |