Fulham vs. Manchester United

Craven Cottage, Saturday, 12:30pm Local, 8:30am Eastern

Craven Cottage sets the scene for this Premier League weekend, with Manchester United coming to town - their season held together with toothpicks and dental floss. Fulham are in an odd pocket in midtable - they’re not getting any pulses racing, nor are they in serious danger of falling toward the relegation places. Cottagers faithful won’t stick their noses up at a potential season of comfortable survival, but - after United’s last few results - they may be disappointed if the West London club doesn’t grab a positive result. Scoring has been the main issue for Marco Silva’s side; Raúl Jiménez and Carlos Vinícius have been nowhere near consistent enough this campaign. If Fulham can put the ball in the net, they’ll fancy their chances of sending United back north with their tails between their legs. 

Manchester United, after a humbling in the Derby and a capitulation in the Carabao Cup, are lower than they’ve been since the tail end of Ralf Ragnick’s time at the club. Beyond the recent results, the entire season has been a swamp fire of mismanagement and poor performances. They are in desperate need of positivity, and will see their trip to London as an opportunity to begin wrangling their season. Erik Ten Hag is under real pressure for the first time since moving to England, and his selection will tell viewers a lot. He has, so far, remained stubborn and cited “tactics” for several curious moves. Perhaps “tactics” will prevail at Craven Cottage - Ten Hag certainly needs them to.

Brentford vs. West Ham

Gtech Community Stadium, Saturday, 3pm Local, 11am Eastern

10th and 9th face off at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, where Brentford host West Ham. The Bees are coming off of a solid win where Thomas Frank’s side outmaneuvered Chelsea in a manner that was, frankly, West Ham-y. However, how will the West London club set up to stymie the Hammers, who also favor sitting back and exploiting open space? Even though Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa have shone for the Bees, it would be no surprise if there weren’t a goal until late in the match. Brentford will back their strong midfield and sturdy defense, but will they get a chance to strike for a win?

West Ham, on the other hand, are coming off of a disappointing defeat to Everton, where the Merseyside club did exactly what Brentford will likely set up to do - catching them with a clinical finish from a counter attack. If this match becomes a turgid stalemate, the Hammers have potential difference makers in the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paquetá, and Mohammed Kudus - who they may have finally worked into the starting lineup for good. While this matchup may well be goal-challenged, it will be a fantastic barometer for where these two clubs stand going forward. The league table is really taking shape and, if Brentford - or, more likely, West Ham - want to make a push for the European places, these are the matches they need to win.

Burnley vs. Crystal Palace

Turf Moor, Saturday, 3pm Local, 11am Eastern

Burnley play host to Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, and it’s safe to say that their return to the Premier League hasn’t yet electrified Turf Moor. Vincent Kompany has persevered with an aggressive style and has very little to show for it. While they’ve had limited success, the Clarets will look at injury-blunted Palace and smell opportunity. If they do want to best the South London club, their defense will need to hold far better than it has. In particular, there have been rumblings in the Burnley fanbase asking for James Trafford to be taken out of the firing line in goal - at least for a little while. Former Manchester City man, Arijanet “Aro” Murić, is their backup, and he’s well loved for his distribution. Whether they make this move or not, it’s critical for the Clarets that they avoid being completely cut adrift from safety.

Crystal Palace are another of the almost drearily safe teams in midtable. They enjoyed a bright beginning to the campaign, but injuries - especially in attack - have numbed a promising first few weeks. This should be a chance for the typically resolute Eagles to earn 3 points, with a clear opportunity to weather early Burnley pressure and cut through their papery defense - even with a few attacking players still sidelined. Palace are still comfortably away from danger, but if they fail to capitalize on opportunities like this, that comfort could wear away.

Everton vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

Goodison Park, Saturday, 3pm Local, 11am Eastern

Sean Dyche has Everton buzzing going into the weekend. The Toffees followed a solid win over West Ham by dumping Burnley out of the Carabao Cup 3-0. This weekend looks to be a stern test, but also sets up very well for the Merseyside club, as they’re unlikely to give Brighton what they want and press them high up the pitch. It’s an opportunity to use their well-established stubbornness to frustrate and dull the match, hoping for a chance to catch out the Seagulls. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin back in nearly his best form, it wouldn’t be a shock if Dyche’s men came away with a result. Also, it should be said that - while Calvert-Lewin is getting his flowers - Everton’s young defensive players, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, and Onana, have been key to this recent improvement.

Brighton have slipped down the table and are in a rather tedious run of form, not having won in the league since late September. They still sit in 7th and shouldn’t by any means be panicking, but earning 3 points at Goodison Park would be a welcome tonic. Look for Evan Ferguson and Carols Baleba to bully the back line and try a few shots from distance as it may take a bit of fortune to breach the Toffees defenses. Roberto De Zerbi’s side have yet to balance their domestic and European commitments, and this is another match before a big midweek test. If they can get a result here, they’ll have 4 days off before their Europa League match - plenty of time to develop some rhythm.

Manchester City vs. Bournemouth

Etihad Stadium, Saturday, 3pm Local, 11am Eastern

While Manchester City supporters are still floating on making United look like a kindergarten team in last weekend’s Derby, Pep Guardiola has been plotting a way to ground the newly hopeful Bournemouth. On paper, this match should be incredibly one sided and the Champions will feel they have more than enough to break down the fragile defense of the Cherries. It will be interesting to see if Jérémy Doku returns to the starting lineup as his pace could tear ribbons in Bournemouth’s backline. It would be an incredible shock if City did anything other than run out cozy victors.

Bournemouth truly got their campaign started last weekend, winning 2-1 over Burnley. That win pulled them out of the bottom 3, which eased the pressure on Andoni Iraola immeasurably. The Cherries put in a spirited performance against Liverpool midweek, falling 2-1 in appalling conditions. Antoine Semenyo was key in both contests. Their match at the weekend, similarly, won’t be season-defining for this Bournemouth side, but they’ll want to avoid a humbling if possible. When Iraola came to the league, he brought a reputation for surprising big sides with his tactics. Were he to do this on Saturday, it would rank as one of the most significant victories of his career.

Sheffield United vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Bramall Lane, Saturday, 3pm Local, 11am Eastern

It doesn’t feel nice to write, but Sheffield United are hopeless. Their bizarre summer strategy of selling their best players late in the window, while only replacing them with lesser versions is catching up to them, and they sit firmly in last place. There are mitigating factors and a complicated ownership situation, but you have to wonder what the Blades are hoping to get out of this season. This weekend, they host the Pedro Neto-less Wolves, and they’ll view it as a chance to get some traction to make a push to - if not get out of the bottom 3 - keep themselves from being completely cut adrift. It won’t be an easy match, but also it’s hard to imagine an easy match for Paul Heckingbottom’s side in the league. 

An echoing silence rang through Molineux when Pedro Neto pulled up from a strong run at goal and collapsed, grabbing his hamstring. It was a worst case scenario for the Midlands club, the brightest spark in their side looking like missing many months of action. However, the prognosis doesn’t look quite as dastardly as it appeared - Gary O’Neill suggested that the winger will miss “a few weeks.” That doesn’t do much for this weekend’s match up, but it will hopefully keep the fanbase from despair. And - all that said - Wolves have had more to cheer about than just the electric Neto. Hwang Hee-chan has been phenomenal, Jose Sá has been one of the best keepers in the league, and the defense has been robust. O’Neill’s side won’t travel to Bramall Lane scared, in fact they’ll expect an easy win even with the injury. 

Newcastle United vs. Arsenal

St. James Park, Saturday, 5:30pm Local, 1:30pm Eastern

Eddie Howe and Newcastle are riding high after unceremoniously thumping Manchester United in midweek. The Magpies will hope to repeat the trick this Saturday evening when Arsenal come to town. The Tyneside club won’t have it easy, and their steady defense will need to navigate an attack that put 5 past Sheffield United last weekend. Callum Wilson’s season has been transcendent, and his form will be crucial as Newcastle will need to be clinical in front of goal. They rotated heavily in the cup and still ran out thorough winners, so they won’t have fatigue as an excuse. It wouldn’t be a shock if this match starts incredibly cagey before blossoming in the second half - a single moment of quality will more than likely decide the contest.

Arsenal have found a groove this season somewhere in between ruthlessly solid and lacking a killer blow. They’re second in the table, ahead of Manchester City on goals scored - so no one is going to be lamenting their fortunes, but there have been several occasions where the Gunners have found themselves in a match that’s much closer than it needs to be. If they’re not fully at the races on Saturday, it’s difficult to see Newcastle being as forgiving as Nottingham Forest or Fulham. However, going in their favor, they have Eddie Nketiah, who scored a hat trick last time out and seems to have stepped up on his latest chance at leading the Arsenal line. The match will be tight, and it could be a moment of magic from the young striker that makes the difference.

Nottingham Forest vs. Aston Villa

City Ground, Sunday, 2pm Local, 9am Eastern

Forest have slowly slid down the table, their bright start smudged by a rough run of fixtures - which continues on Sunday when Aston Villa come to town. Steve Cooper’s side hasn’t won in any competition since September 2nd, though they’ve earned a few draws to keep them out of danger. Aston Villa are a difficult proposition, and - on paper - this looks like a tough challenge for Forest. If they’re to get anything from the match, they’ll need to catch Villa on the break - a tactic that’s worked against the Birmingham side. It will be a big weekend for Anthony Elanga and Taiwo Awoniyi, who looks fit to go from the start.

Unai Emery’s side go into the weekend in 5th place, riding a great streak of play. Ollie Watkins has gone supersonic, and the quick striking front line of Wakins, Diaby, and Bailey are all purring. A worry for Villa: it’s unlikely Forest make a habit of leaving themselves exposed to counters - it’s just not their strategy. Emery will need to find ways of breaking down a stubborn defense while not exposing his back line to quick breaks. You’d think the Birmingham outfit should have more than enough to earn a win, but, when the City Ground gets to full volume, nothing is guaranteed for a visiting side.

Luton Town vs. Liverpool

Kenilworth Road, Sunday, 4:30pm Local, 11:30am Eastern

The Hatters host Liverpool in the late game on Sunday, welcoming the Reds back to Kenilworth Road for the first time in a league match since the 1991-92 season. Luton have slipped into the bottom 3 following Bournemouth’s win last weekend, but they’re easily the promoted side who’s adjusted best to their step up. Rob Edwards won't try anything flashy, but will set up to bend not break against what’s sure to be sustained Liverpool pressure. Scoring has proven difficult for the Hatters, and that’s unlikely to change on Sunday. But, if they do find the back of the net, it will almost certainly come from Carlton Morris, who is integral to any chance Luton have of staying in the top flight.

Liverpool have been enjoying their football since returning from the international break, winning both league games as well as their fixtures in the Europa League and Carabao Cup. Their defense, even without Andy Robertson, has looked strong - with 2 clean sheets on the bounce. And their attack has kept up all its old tricks, scoring 12 goals in the last 4 matches in all competitions. All of this is to say that it’s incredibly unlikely that Klopp’s men come away from Kenilworth Road with anything less than 3 points. It’s tempting to believe in the magic of the underdog, but the likes of Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo, and Darwin Núñez are more than capable of tearing up any Cinderella story.

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Chelsea

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Monday, 8pm Local, 3pm Eastern

It’s a Monday night London Derby! Tottenham Hotspur host Chelsea under the lights in what is often a very spiky contest. Spurs are one of only two remaining undefeated clubs heading into the weekend, and - as long as they keep winning - they remain on top of the table. The North London club has had a relatively kind run of fixtures and, while Chelsea aren’t challenging at the top of the table, this will be a serious test for Ange Postecoglou and his good vibes crew. However, Spurs are at the top of the pile for a reason, and their attacking options could very well be too much for a still-gelling Chelsea backline. Son Heung-min will be the focal point, and he’ll look to facilitate at the top of the pitch as well as picking out opportunities for himself. If Spurs come away with a win, it may be time to start taking them seriously as title contenders.

Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea can’t seem to keep a positive run going. Their strong performances had earned them a couple of wins before an - at least in their minds - unfortunate draw to Arsenal. However, that all came crashing down last weekend when Brentford simply outsmarted the young West London side, expertly managing a 2-0 victory which deflated any Chelsea momentum. Perhaps the history of this fixture is just the galvanizing force that they need - and a result could start to propel the side forward. The Blues will certainly hope so, as they face off against Manchester City next weekend.