THE opening three rounds of fixtures have underlined why the English Premier League (EPL) remains an enthralling spectacle with goals galore and unexpected results despite reigning champions Manchester City’s relentless dominance. Here FocusM gives the lowdown on the weekend’s fixtures.
Luton Town v West Ham United (Sept 2, 3am)
European commitments hindered West Ham’s league form last season but that was largely assuaged by success in the UEFA Conference Cup. This season has started in much better fashion with the Hammers second in the table.
Despite the failure to sign Manchester United reject, Harry Macguire, David Moyes has been able to bolster his squad with key signings including the highly rated Ghanaian striker Mohamad Kudus from Ajax. Their impressive win against Brighton away should mean they approach this tri to Kenilworth Road in buoyant mood.
Sheffield United v Everton (Sept 2, 7.30pm)
While it’s still the early stages of the season, this already has the feel of a relegation six-pointer. Everton are winless and goalless after three fixtures and they will be hoping new signing Beto will help solve the goal-scoring crisis that has haunted them since last season.
Given Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s frequent injury woes and the departures of Richarlison and Antony Gordon to Spurs and Newcastle respectively, Everton’s slow reaction to their lack of firepower upfront has been nothing short of farcical.
Brentford v Bournemouth (Sept 2, 10pm)
The Bees and the Cherries may be the league’s unfashionable sides but they have shown time and again that they have the nous to survive in this elite division. Bournemouth’s ambitions may be just to avoid the drop but Brentford may be aiming just a little higher, perhaps with an eye on European competition next season.
In Thomas Frank, they have a tactician who has shown he can compete against the top teams, with scalps in recent seasons including both Manchester sides. The 4-0 rout of Manchester United last season was particularly memorable.
Burnley v Tottenham Hotspurs (Sept 2, 10pm)
Spurs got knocked out of the League Cup by Fulham in midweek and Ange Postecoglou will rue the missed opportunity to add silverware to the threadbare trophy cabinet. The cup tie also highlighted the importance of new signing James Maddison as Spurs look bereft of ideas without the midfielder’s creativity.
Burnley are a very different proposition under Vincent Kompany compared to Sean Dyche’s tenure and will look to further compound Spurs’ misery at exiting the League Cup so early on.
Chelsea v Nottingham Forest (Sept 2, 10pm)
The signing of Nikolas Jackson from Villareal seems to have finally put an end to Chelsea’s long search for a No. 9. The striker’s hoodoo stretches back a long way with supporters cringing at the vast sums paid for the likes of Andriy Schevchenko and Fernando Torres, with more recent failures including Romelo Lukaku and Kai Havertz.
The fact that Chelsea have spent close to a billion pounds since Ted Boehly rolled into town means that Chelsea should surely have enough firepower to see off Forest.
Manchester City v Fulham (Sept 2, 10pm)
Can anyone stop Pep Guardiola and his relentless Manchester City winning machine?
City are the only side to register maximum points and are favourites to add another three points as they look to be the first team ever to win four titles on the trot. The odds of them superseding last season’s treble are already shortening as astute signings in Jeremy Doku and Mather Nunes mean Pep has a large squad to pick from. Early-season form also suggests City are not too hindered by the loss of Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle (Sept 2, 11.30pm)
The Geordies suffered a morale-sapping home defeat to 10-men Liverpool last weekend and face another tricky fixture against the high-flying Seagulls. Brighton, too, need to bounce back from a damaging home loss to West Ham and a win against Newcastle will restore belief that they can actually break into the top four.
The danger for the Seagulls is that the continuous sale of their best talent may come back to haunt them this season after previous years’ successes.
Liverpool v Aston Villa (Sept 3, 9pm)
Will Darwin Nunez be included in the starting XI after his heroics at St James Park last weekend?
Despite his undoubted talent, questions linger over Liverpool’s record signing, in particular his ability to defend from the front. With Jurgen Klopp having plenty of striking options, it remains to be seen if Nunez will be given the chance to lead the attack against a highly-rated Villa side.
Unai Emery’s team is fresh from an 8-0 aggregate trouncing of Hibernian in Europe and hopes that rich vein of form will continue at Anfield.
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Sept 3, 9pm)
Things have changed quite dramatically since Nuno Espirito Santo took Wolves into Europe.
The impending departure of Mathues Nunes to Manchester City feels very much like rats leaving a sinking ship with expectations these days being to merely stave off relegation. Their poor return in front of goal last season—just 31 goals from 38 games—highlights where their problems lie.
A dogged and well-drilled Palace side is unlikely to provide them with too many opportunities as Roy Hodgson looks to push the Eagles towards contention for a European place.
Arsenal v Manchester United (Sept 3, 11.30pm)
It was definitely the plum tie of the weekend as a shaky Manchester United took on a swashbuckling Arsenal. Manchester United looked wobbly against Wolves and Forest and were soundly beaten by the Spurs.
Arsenal will be hoping to capitalise on this but they have issues of their own as their home draw against 10-man Fulham clearly demonstrated. Expect Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah to give United’s backline a stern test with their pace and ingenuity. – Sept 1, 2023
All photos credited to Getty Images
