Manchester United and Chelsea want a swift response to their title credentials being broken by dwelling defeats final weekend, whereas one or each of Liverpool and Arsenal’s excellent information will come to an finish once they face off at Anfield on Monday evening. Crystal Palace and Everton even have the prospect to say prime spot once they meet at Selhurst Park on Saturday, whereas the opposite facet with most factors from the opening two weekends, Leicester, face a frightening journey to Manchester Metropolis. Gareth Bale will not be fit to function for Tottenham once they host Newcastle on Sunday, however Harry Kane and Son Heung-min are sufficient for the Magpies to concern after the England captain arrange the South Korean to attain 4 at Southampton.
Chelsea journey to bottom-of-the-table West Brom, who’re nonetheless looking for their first level again within the top-flight.
AFP Sport appears at among the essential speaking factors forward of this weekend’s motion:
Mayday for Man Utd?
Optimism that United may return to difficult for the title after a 14-game unbeaten run to finish final season was washed away with that unbeaten document as Palace had been good worth for his or her Three-1 win at Previous Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s males appeared desperately wanting match sharpness having had barely two weeks of pre-season coaching.
A month-long off season was additionally disruptive off the sphere with captain Harry Maguire being handed a suspended jail time period in Greece, which he’s interesting, and teenage striker Mason Greenwood being despatched dwelling by England for breaching coronavirus protocols when on worldwide obligation.
There’s additionally outcry among the many United fanbase at a scarcity of signings within the switch market, whereas their rivals nonetheless spend freely regardless of the financial impacts of the pandemic.
The Pink Devils desperately want three factors at Brighton on Saturday to carry some calm, however the Seagulls have proven sufficient of their opening two video games to counsel United face a far more durable take a look at than once they received Three-Zero on the south coast in June.
Brighton had been the higher facet for lengthy spells regardless of dropping Three-1 to Chelsea on the opening weekend and bounced again with a complete Three-Zero win at Newcastle.
United did handle to get previous Championship facet Luton within the League Cup on Tuesday regardless of Solskjaer making 10 modifications, however the Norwegian wanted to carry on Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Greenwood within the latter levels to kill the tie off with Rashford and Greenwood getting on the scoresheet.
“We have to get aggressive video games and minutes into the legs of our gamers as a result of usually we’re in a pre-season after such a brief coaching (interval),” stated Solskjaer.
“It is nice for them to get minutes as properly but in addition targets.”
Extra motivated Everton shine
Everton’s funding within the switch market is reaping quick rewards as they’ve received their opening two league video games of the season for the primary time in seven years.
Carlo Ancelotti has been in a position to recruit Champions League-winning high quality in James Rodriguez, alongside Brazilian worldwide Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure in midfield.
“The gamers have come again with extra ambition and motivation,” stated Ancelotti after ending 12th final season. “The brand new signings have helped us be extra motivated.”
Palace will present an early take a look at of how far Ancelotti’s males can go this season as they’ve picked off Southampton and United relaxed on the counter-attack with Wilfried Zaha rediscovering his finest type to attain thrice in two video games.
Third time fortunate for Liverpool?
Arsenal have gotten the higher of Liverpool twice in latest months, however the acid take a look at for Mikel Arteta’s facet comes at what he described because the “hardest place to go on the planet”, Anfield, on Monday.
The Gunners rode their luck to beat the Reds after Jurgen Klopp’s males had sealed the title final season, however the Neighborhood Defend conflict between the 2 a month in the past was a much more balanced recreation, which Arsenal received on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Arsenal have constructed on their momentum from profitable the FA Cup by beating Fulham and West Ham to strengthen the conviction that Arteta can lead them again into the highest 4 this season.
However Liverpool showed in sweeping aside Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge last weekend that they continue to be the workforce to beat and have solely strengthened with the signing of Thiago Alcantara.
Saturday (all instances GMT)
Brighton v Manchester United (1130), Crystal Palace v Everton (1400), West Brom v Chelsea (1630), Burnley v Southampton (1900)
Sunday
Sheffield United v Leeds (1100), Tottenham v Newcastle (1300), Manchester Metropolis v Leicester (1530), West Ham v Wolves (1800)
Promoted
Monday
Fulham v Aston Villa (1745), Liverpool v Arsenal (1900)
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