Round three of the brand new English Premier League season brings a full set of fixtures to see out the month of August.
And it all builds towards the cathedral that is St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon for the latest installment of Newcastle versus Liverpool.
It’s a contest that oozes romance for the football tragic, dating back to a series of tumultuous contests in the mid-1990s.
There’s plenty riding on this edition, too, with both sides seeking a second victory of the campaign in the north east.
A contest unthinkable a couple of years ago, meanwhile, pits Chelsea against Luton on Friday night.
The Hatters head to Stamford Bridge fresh from their meteoric rise from non-league football to the top flight – as well as from a weekend off as their creaking Kenilworth Road home is dragged kicking and screaming up to EPL standards.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues have a solitary point to show for their opening two outings, while the transfer turnstile continues to rattle round in west London.
There are six Saturday Premier League contests, headlined across the capital city by Arsenal hosting Fulham.
The Gunners are one of only three teams with a maximum, six-point haul so far as they attempt to go one better than last season’s runners-up finish under Mikel Arteta.
Marco Silva’s Cottagers are also off the mark, with the bold ambition of repeating the top half assault of last time around following their promotion from the Championship.
Manchester United are seeking a second home win of the new term when they meet Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.
The visitors are above their illustrious hosts by virtue of goal difference in the nascent table, with both having a win and a loss to show for their efforts so far.
Tottenham kick off Saturday’s Premier League action when they head to the south coast to play Bournemouth, with all eyes on Australian boss Ange Postecoglou and his refreshing, attacking style despite the absence of sold star Harry Kane.
And the day’s drama comes to a head in the evening EPL fixture along the English Channel.
Brighton have also made a perfect start under in-demand coach Roberto de Zerbi, with West Ham the visitors to the Amex Stadium off the back of their impressive home victory against rivals Chelsea last Sunday.
Fans on the blue half of Merseyside will be forgiven for wondering if they are in for the earliest relegation six-pointer on record, as Everton take on Wolves.
The sorry pair have failed to defy the bookies’ odds so far, with both yet to record a point ahead of their Goodison Park showdown and with early pressure mounting.
There’s a lighter feel to proceedings back down in London, however, as Brentford host Crystal Palace with both teams up and running under the contrasting styles of coaches Thomas Frank and Roy Hodgson.
Reigning champions Manchester City nip across the Pennines on Sunday afternoon with a third straight win in their sights.
Pep Guardiola’s side have picked up from where they left off this month, including a Super Cup win in Athens, while the Blades have predictably kicked off with a brace of defeats having managed to lose their best players since securing promotion from the second tier.
It’s a wave of claret and blue to complete the weekend’s EPL programme, as Burnley welcome Aston Villa to Turf Moor.
The hosts had an unwelcome break in round two thanks to Luton’s construction work, while the Villans thumped hapless Everton at Villa Park on Sunday.
English Premier League predictions for 25 – 27 August
Chelsea v Luton Town
Result prediction | draw |
Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
HT / FT prediction | Chelsea / draw |
Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Anytime Goalscorer prediction | C. Morris(Luton Town) |
AFC Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur
Result prediction | Tottenham Hotspur to win |
Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
HT / FT prediction | Tottenham Hotspur / Tottenham Hotspur to win |
Team to Score prediction | Tottenham Hotspur |
Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Arsenal v Fulham
Result prediction | Arsenal to win |
Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
HT / FT prediction | Arsenal / Arsenal to win |
Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Anytime Goalscorer prediction | A. Mitrović(Fulham) |
Brentford v Crystal Palace
Result prediction | Brentford to win |
Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
HT / FT prediction | Brentford / Brentford to win |
Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Y. Wissa(Brentford) B. Mbeumo(Brentford) |
Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Result prediction | draw |
Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
HT / FT prediction | draw / draw |
Team to Score prediction | none |
Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Manchester United v Nottingham Forest
Result prediction | Manchester United to win |
Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
HT / FT prediction | Manchester United / Manchester United to win |
Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Anytime Goalscorer prediction | T. Awoniyi(Nottingham Forest) |
Brighton & Hove Albion v West Ham United
Result prediction | Brighton & Hove Albion to win |
Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
HT / FT prediction | Brighton & Hove Albion / Brighton & Hove Albion to win |
Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Anytime Goalscorer prediction | S. March(Brighton & Hove Albion) E. Ferguson(Brighton & Hove Albion) |
Burnley v Aston Villa
Result prediction | Aston Villa to win |
Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
HT / FT prediction | Aston Villa / Aston Villa to win |
Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Douglas Luiz(Aston Villa) |
Sheffield United v Manchester City
Result prediction | Manchester City to win |
Over/Under prediction | under 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) J. Álvarez(Manchester City) |
Newcastle United v Liverpool
Result prediction | draw |
Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
HT / FT prediction | draw / draw |
Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Diogo Jota(Liverpool) C. Gakpo(Liverpool) |