A packed English Premier League weekend builds towards a pair of monumental fixtures on Sunday at the top of the table.
It’s reigning champions versus runners-up when Arsenal host Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in the late afternoon kick off.
With the second international football break of the season to follow, it’s the perfect EPL send off in north London.
And it’s a tantalizing prospect once more, with Pep Guardiola’s side a point clear of the third-placed Gunners at the top of the standings.
Sunday also pits two more early pacemakers against each other on the south coast, as Liverpool go to Brighton.
The Seagulls need to adapt sharpish to the dual demands of domestic and continental football, having battled back to an inspiring, exhausting draw away to Marseille at the iconic Stade Velodrome on Thursday night.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds had a gentle home win in the same Uefa Europa League competition, with the pair fourth and sixth in the Premier League table and having both lost last weekend.
West Ham and Newcastle aren’t far behind at the sharp end, ahead of their meeting at the London Stadium.
The Toon Army’s collective heart rate might still be coming back to normal following their pulsating 4-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Uefa Champions League in midweek.
But boss Eddie Howe is a cool customer, as is opposite number David Moyes, as the pair look for a nudge towards the top four ahead of the break.
And there’s a West Midlands derby for EPL fans to enjoy as well, as Wolves host high-flying Aston Villa.
The Villans go to Molineux off the back of a booming, 6-1 win over Brighton, while the hosts stunned the football world last time out, beating Manchester City 2-1.
Six Saturday matches include a home outing for Manchester United against Brentford at an increasingly fraught Old Trafford.
Coach Erik ten Hag is feeling the heat after three league defeats in four, compounded by their Champions League upset at the hands of Galatasaray in midweek.
Tottenham have the Premier League’s only unbeaten record alongside north London rivals Arsenal and they make the short trip north to play promoted Luton in the Saturday lunchtime kick off.
Ange Postecoglou is proving a popular appointment as Spurs coach, sealing five wins and two draws since his switch from Glasgow Celtic.
The Hatters broke the seal last weekend after their top flight return, picking up a first, precious three-point haul.
Chelsea also hit the road on Saturday, making the trek to Lancashire for a date with Vincent Kompany’s Burnley.
The Blues settled the unrest with a second win of the campaign last weekend, while the Clarets managed their maiden success at Luton on Tuesday night.
Everton versus Bournemouth has all the hallmarks of an early relegation six-pointer at Goodison Park.
Sean Dyche is under pressure in the home dugout after being turned over by minnows Luton, while the Cherries are yet to win in seven attempts this term.
Fulham are another team seeking to find their feet in a bid to repeat last season’s top half finish.
A home game with promoted Sheffield United provides the perfect opportunity to do just that, with the Blades heading to Craven Cottage with just a single point to their name.
Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, will both be pleased with their EPL starts.
They meet at Selhurst Park, with the home side knowing victory could take them as high as seventh before the blank weekend.
English Premier League predictions for 7 – 8 October
Burnley v Chelsea
Result prediction: draw
Over/Under prediction: under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: draw / draw
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: L. Foster(Burnley)
Everton v AFC Bournemouth
Result prediction: Everton to win
Over/Under prediction: under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: draw / Everton to win
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: A. Doucouré(Everton)
Fulham v Sheffield United
Result prediction: Fulham to win
Over/Under prediction: under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: draw / Fulham to win
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: n/a
Manchester United v Brentford
Result prediction: draw
Over/Under prediction: under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: draw / draw
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: n/a
Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest
Result prediction: draw
Over/Under prediction: under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: Nottingham Forest / draw
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: O. Édouard(Crystal Palace)
Brighton & Hove Albion 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: E. Ferguson(Brighton & Hove Albion)
D. Núñez(Liverpool)
West Ham United v Newcastle United
Result prediction: draw
Over/Under prediction: over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: draw / draw
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: J. Bowen(West Ham United)
C. Wilson(Newcastle United)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 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: Hwang Hee-Chan(Wolverhampton Wanderers)
O. Watkins(Aston Villa)
M. Cash(Aston Villa)
Arsenal v Manchester City
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: M. Ødegaard(Arsenal)
B. Saka(Arsenal)
E. Haaland(Manchester City)