Another weekend of Premier League fixtures has arrived with plenty of teams fighting to stake their claim as title challengers and others hoping to put some much-needed distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
Reigning champions Man City get the weekend underway with a trip to Newcastle as Pep Guardiola attempts to solve a midfield injury crisis, while Man United host Tottenham on Sunday in a huge game for both sides.
Chelsea will want to keep their impressive start under Enzo Maresca going but face a daunting visit from a Brighton side with early ambitions of reaching Europe, with Nottingham Forest also hosting Fulham at the City Ground.  Â
Meanwhile, Bournemouth will have their south coast derby clash against rivals Southampton televised on Monday as the Saints look to finally end their incredible winless run.
Here, Mail Sport brings you our predicted lineups for every match ahead of the Premier League weekend…Â
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya is set to undergo a late fitness test on a muscle complaint
Defender Jarrad Branthwaite could make his first start of the season for Everton this weekendÂ
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is hoping to keep his side’s strong start to the season going against Brighton
Newcastle v Man City
Kick off: Saturday 12.30pm
City’s last trip to St James’ Park in January was a real humdinger with the reigning champions eventually leaving with three invaluable points as youngster Oscar Bobb scored a stoppage time winner.
Pep Guardiola will have to engineer a victory this time around without the presence of key midfielder Rodri who has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering knee ligament damage that will require surgery
Meanwhile, Magpies boss Eddie Howe has sent a blunt warning to his players after losing 3-1 against Fulham last time out and will be hoping Anthony Gordon can deliver goals against City – with Alexander Isak a doubt – ahead of signing a new long-term contract.Â
Arsenal v Leicester
Kick off: Saturday 3pm
The Gunners almost secured a dream victory against 10-men Man City last weekend and the return of an extra man means Leicester can expect a tough afternoon at the Emirates – even with David Raya needing a late test on a muscle complaint.
Jamie Vardy almost joined Arsenal during his prime Premier League years before opting to stay at the Foxes and will have to rediscover his goalscoring form of yesteryear if he wants to get past William Saliba and Gabriel.
Expect Thomas Partey to partner Declan Rice in defensive midfield as Mikel Arteta looks to use Kai Havertz as a second striker alongside Leandro Trossard – who returns after serving his one-match suspension midweek.Â
Brentford v West Ham
Kick off: Saturday 3pm
The mission for Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui is to find a plug for his leaky defence after they shipped eight goals across the past seven days – losing 3-0 against Chelsea last Saturday and being knocked out the Carabao Cup by Liverpool in a 5-1 midweek defeat.
At the other end of the pitch, West Ham’s Germany international Niclas Fullkrug missed the Liverpool clash with a calf injury and faces a late fitness test that will determine his odds of playing Brentford as does Bees star Christian Norgaard.
Both sides go head-to-head after barren winless runs and Lopetegui’s position could look precarious if his Hammers stars collapse again.
Chelsea v Brighton
Kick off: Saturday 3pm
The Blues are flying under Enzo Maresca’s reign with a win over Brighton potentially taking them top of the table if other results elsewhere fall generously.
Chelsea’s midfield has been give a timely boost Romeo Lavia returns to the matchday squad, while Yasin Ayari is also back available for the visitors after recovering from a short illness.
Brighton are one of only four Premier League teams still unbeaten this season and if they can engineer a victory at Stamford Bridge then people will seriously be considering the Seagulls for a European challenge.
Everton v Crystal Palace
Kick off: Saturday 3pm
The Toffees embark on their first Premier League contest after the Friedkin Group reached an agreement to take control of the club and the return of defender Jarrad Branthwaite couldn’t come soon enough.
Branthwaite has been a huge miss in an Everton defence that has crumbled this season to take just one point from five matches, while Trevoh Chalobah is also available to make his Palace debut.
Everton fans will be chewing their nails if they take a 2-0 lead against Palace after twice throwing away that advantage in recent defeats against Bournemouth and Aston Villa. A point against Leicester last time out was their first of the season.
Nottingham Forest v Fulham
Kick off: Saturday 3pm
Morgan Gibbs-White will be the big miss for the hosts as he serves a one-match ban, with the hosts welcoming a Fulham side to the City Ground that has their tails up.
Fulham flexed their attacking muscles by despatching Newcastle last weekend, but Forest are in similar rich form and remain unbeaten – even holding out with 10-men for a draw at Brighton most recently.
The City Ground is bouncing at the moment and that could prove to be the difference for Forest with Callum Hudson-Odoi now showing the creative quality that previously made him through a breakthrough star at Chelsea.Â
Wolves v Liverpool
Kick off: Saturday 5.30pm
Gary O’Neill’s side sit bottom of the Premier League standings after a dismal start to the season and news of an illness sweeping through the Wolves camp makes the visit of Liverpool a hugely daunting task.
Arne Slot has got his Reds firing – with a shock defeat against Forest their only slip-up – and the return of Alisson in goal is a huge boost for the visitors.
Victory for Wolves over expected title challengers could be the firecracker that finally ignites their season, but it’s hard to see anything other than an away win at Molineux.
Ipswich v Aston Villa
Kick off: Sunday 2pm
The newly-promoted hosts are finding it tough in the Premier League as the wait for a first win drags on, but three successive draws shows improvements are being made.
Unfortunately for the Portman Road hosts, Sunday’s visitors are unbeaten in their last 10 away league games against Ipswich dating back to 1984.
Villa have won their last five matches across the league, Europe and Carabao Cup coming into this clash, but there is always time for an upset and Ipswich fans will be hoping this is the day.
Man United v Tottenham
Kick off: Sunday 4.30pm
This is arguably the hardest game of the weekend to call with neither Spurs or Man United showing much consistency to gives their fans much to shout about.
United were wounded by drawing midweek in the Europa League and defeat against Tottenham at Old Trafford would put Erik ten Hag under even greater scrutiny after a difficult start to the season.
Spurs captain Son Heung-min faces a late fitness test after being withdrawn in their midweek European win, while Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund could start for the hosts.
Bournemouth v Southampton
Kick off: Monday 8pm
A south coast derby clash between these Premier League rivals has the added incentive of Southampton being presented with the opportunity to end their ridiculous winless run at the home of their rivals.
If Bournemouth want to inflict more misery on the Saints then they will have to do it without their manager on the touchline as Cherries Andoni Iraola serves a touchline ban after receiving three yellow cards in five games.
Tyler Adams is the only absentee for Bournemouth.Â