Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool

Selhurst Park, Saturday, 12:30pm Local, 7:30am Eastern

Selhurst Park hosts this weekend’s curtain raiser, with Crystal Palace desperate to halt a dreadful run at home. It’s not an easy proposition for the Eagles, as 2nd place Liverpool look to win 3 league matches in a row to keep pace with Arsenal. Roy Hodgson is likely to sit deep and choose moments to sting on the counter attack, a tactic which has been successful in the past. Michael Olise, Odsonne Édouard, and Jordan Ayew have all shown moments of brilliance in recent weeks. If one of them can produce on Saturday afternoon - combined with a strong defensive display - Palace may be able to shake their indifferent form.

Liverpool are in a good moment, following up their critical draw with Manchester City with two wins on the spin. The second of these, an unspectacular 2-0 victory at Bramall Lane, could be instructive to Jürgen Klopp’s side as they try to nab another 3 points on the road. Oddly, a Liverpool forward hasn’t scored in the league since before the last international break, which is fine because of the contributions of the midfielders and defenders but a bit worrying as Klopp will want his frontmen in rhythm during this hectic stretch. The Merseyside club will be disappointed with anything other than a victory, which would (at least briefly) sit them atop the table.

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Burnley

Amex Stadium, Saturday, 3pm Local, 10am Eastern

Roberto De Zerbi’s side put together a strong showing last time out against Brentford, winning 2-1 and looking much more like their old selves. Kaoru Mitoma in particular shone, and - though De Zerbi is not afraid to rotate his squad - you’d expect to see the Japanese international at the heart of their attacking plan versus Burnley. The danger he provides as both a scorer and a distributor is up there with any player in the league. The Seagulls were also more defensively sound in their last performance, and they’ll think that they can contain an improved but still struggling Burnley on their home patch.

Vincent Kompany’s side were unable to follow up their smashing of Sheffield United with a result against Wolves, losing 1-0. It was far from their worst performance this season, but anyone who thought the Clarets had turned a corner was sorely mistaken. If Burnley continue with their aggressive, possession based style for this match, it’s hard to see them coming away with anything. Brighton are not a team where you want to leave yourself open on the break, and that’s been a common problem for Kompany’s side. The Clarets are running out of time to prove they can hang with the more established sides in the league; they need to start pulling out results in matches like this if they want to survive.

Manchester United vs. Bournemouth

Old Trafford, Saturday, 3pm Local, 10am Eastern

Things look brighter for both sides squaring off at Old Trafford on Saturday. Manchester United rebounded from their humiliation to Newcastle by dropping one of their finest performances of the season against Chelsea in midweek. Bournemouth have started to shine under Andoni Iraola, snagging a win against Crystal Palace last time out and are undefeated in 4 matches. Recently, the Red Devils have held their own against teams lower than them in the table, so you may expect them to handle the Cherries with - if not ease - confidence. However, the South Coast club’s recent form makes them harder to predict. Scott McTominay has been electric for Erik Ten Hag’s side, but his aggression from midfield may be a double edged sword. He could be the difference maker in this match or Bournemouth could exploit the space he leaves open when bombing forward.

Speaking of Andoni Iraola’s side, their recent uptick in form has coincided with improved performances from several key players. Antoine Semenyo, Jefferson Lerma, Milos Kerkez, and Marcus Tavernier have started to gel, and Dominic Solanke remains steady. Despite United’s more convincing play, their speed and skill on the break could prove to be very difficult for the Manchester side to deal with, and an early goal for the Cherries would test the Red Devils’ resolve. Without hoping to jinx anything, it is very unlikely that this match ends 0-0.

Sheffield United vs. Brentford

Bramall Lane, Saturday, 3pm Local, 10am Eastern

Chris Wilder, while he may have hoped for a surprise result from his midweek clash with Liverpool, realistically knew that this match was his first chance to show off his plans for the new Sheffield United. Brentford coming to town is no easy task for the Blades - though it’s difficult to say what an easy task would be for a team rooted to the bottom of the Premier League on 5 points. Like most managers taking over a flailing club, Wilder will likely look to stabilize the defense before prioritizing offensive fluidity. A clean sheet would be ideal for the Blades, but any signs of improvement will be welcome at Bramall Lane.

Brentford fell to Brighton last time out, and the Bees will be eager to get a positive result on Saturday afternoon. Were it not for their opponents' change in managers, the West London club would go into this showdown with a fair amount of confidence, but it’s hard to be too sure of yourself if you’re not sure what to expect. Despite scoring a penalty on Wednesday, Brentford’s attack was blunted by the Seagulls. Thomas Frank will want to heap pressure on Sheffield United and hope they bend, giving Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa chances to settle the match early. A raucous home crowd behind a new manager is the last thing that Brentford wants.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Nottingham Forest

Molineux, Saturday, 3pm Local, 10am Eastern

Wolves welcome the flailing Nottingham Forest to Molineux in what might be Steve Cooper’s final match in charge. Gary O’Neill’s side has remained steady, recording a win over Burnley in their last contest. Comfortable survival - which looked far from a sure thing earlier in the campaign - looks certain for the Midlands club. While that may well prove enough for fans and the club’s ownership, most will feel that Wolves should come out of contests like these victorious. Hwang Hee-chan cannot stop scoring at home, and he has a chance to put one over his fellow Midlands club if he continues that streak on Saturday.

Steve Cooper’s fate appears to be sealed, but that doesn’t mean that Forest won’t throw everything into this match. Their attack was particularly abject against Fulham, so it will be incumbent on Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Elanga, and Chris Wood to rediscover some rhythm at their neighbor’s place. Barring an outstanding performance, Cooper is likely to leave when there’s adequate time to replace him. It shouldn’t be lost how impactful his stint at the City Ground has been, and wherever he manages next will be lucky to have him. Perhaps Forest’s owner has a change of heart, but - barring that unlikelihood - Forest fans have one last chance to clap off the manager who returned them to the top flight after over two decades.

Aston Villa vs. Arsenal

Villa Park, Saturday, 5:30pm Local, 12:30pm Eastern

The showdown between Aston Villa and Arsenal has suddenly become a crucial one in the race for both the title and the Champions League places. Villa enter the contest in 3rd place after their thorough defeat of the Champions on Wednesday. Unai Emery’s side is clinical at Villa Park, and they’ll know that another home victory could pull them up to 2nd if results go their way elsewhere. If they can recapture the defensive ferocity of their last match, there’s no reason to think they can’t contain the Gunners. Their speedy frontline of Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey, and Moussa Diaby could cause trouble for the North London side, and John McGinn will look to pick out the incisive pass.

Arsenal are under simple directives: win and you stay top. This is one of the more challenging away fixtures they’ll have this season, but Mikel Arteta’s side has met nearly all challenges they’ve faced so far. His club has a tendency to either pull results out of the fire (like their last outing against Luton Town) or to fail to put contests to bed (like the previous outing against Wolves). So far, the Gunners have avoided major consequences for any of these bad habits, but supporters of the North London club would not be opposed to seeing their club stamp their authority on the match this time out. Working in their favor, their first choice frontline should be available and has had a few opportunities to work together and gain rhythm. The more reps they get as a unit, the more likely they are to make the difference in challenging matches like this.

Everton vs. Chelsea

Goodison Park, Sunday, 2pm Local, 9am Eastern

In a matchup that might have felt lopsided in seasons past, buoyant Everton host stumbling Chelsea at Goodison Park. While Everton are on 10 points, hovering precariously over the relegation zone, if they hadn’t been docked points, they would be in the top half of the table - just above their West London opponents. The Merseyside club has looked cohesive and they’ve begun converting their chances at a better rate. With the boost a fired up Goodison can provide, Sean Dyche will feel that Chelsea are there for the taking. Dwight McNeil has been at the helm of their recent good results, scoring 2 in 2. If he - and their go-to frontman, Dominic Calvert-Lewin - can find the net, it could be a long night for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Chelsea continue to bob on a stream of mediocrity, unable to get a run of form together. They lost to Manchester United in their last outing and were thoroughly outplayed. Everton, as noted above, are not as fragile as their league position suggests, and the West London club can’t expect the Toffees to allow them to slowly build their attacks. Christopher Nkunku - who has reached almost mythical status as the chosen one to fix Chelsea’s attack - posted photos of himself training at Cobham ahead of the match, bolstering supporter’s hopes that he’ll make his first competitive appearance. He might not be enough to make the difference, but he could be a step in the right direction.

Fulham vs. West Ham

Craven Cottage, Sunday, 2pm Local, 9am Eastern

Craven Cottage is the setting for an West versus East London Derby on Sunday afternoon. Fulham, who followed up their late loss against Liverpool by absolutely bodying Nottingham Forest, come into the contest in good spirits. Their attack, which struggled for consistency early in the season, has blossomed, and the Cottagers have scored 38% of their goals this season in just the last 2 games. Alex Iwobi and Raúl Jiménez have been largely behind their change in fortunes, and it’s especially heartwarming to see Jiménez resembling his old self. West Ham are a tricky proposition, however, as they’re unlikely to press high enough to allow Fulham to counter, forcing Fulham generate offense on their own.

West Ham downed Spurs in their last match, which was a great result for David Moyes’ side. They may consider themselves lucky, as both goals were perhaps… not the most repeatable, but a win is a win. The Hammers - who have a winner take all clash against Freiburg in the Europa League on Thursday - have struggled to put up successive performances, though they may be aided this time around because every team in the Premier League is managing a midweek clash. Jarrod Bowen’s return to the team has been instrumental, and he’s just the sort of line breaking force that could make the difference here. James Ward-Prowse, who also scored in midweek, could also be the key man; the right delivery from the midfielder may decide the match. 

Luton Town vs. Manchester City

Kenilworth Road, Sunday, 2pm Local, 9am Eastern

After a slow start, Luton Town have made Kenilworth Road a bit more of a fortress, drawing with Liverpool and nearly repeating the feat against Arsenal in midweek. The Hatters have another opportunity to test their home form when the Champions - who have stuttered as of late - make the trip down to the Kenny. While Rob Edward’s side has slipped back into the relegation zone, there are reasons for positivity as Jacob Brown has caught fire in recent weeks. Carlton Morris, however, has struggled to make an impact after serving as a leading man early in the season. This is a contest Luton are unlikely to win, and if they lose there won’t be any degree of handwringing. A bigger concern is what comes after this, as it looks increasingly likely that none of the sides above them are going to be easy pickings in their push for survival.

Manchester City, winless in 4 league games? As odd as it sounds, it’s the truth, and the Champions have stumbled into 4th position in the table. Some of their performances have been unlucky (Tottenham, Liverpool) and some (Aston Villa) seem indicative of bigger problems with Pep Guardiola’s side. Luton - despite recent improvements - shouldn’t strike fear into City, but confidence is fickle, and the Champions have taken plenty of knocks recently. Guardiola will likely attack this match at full pelt and hope to put crooked numbers on the scoreboard. An emphatic victory would do wonders for the club’s momentum; anything less would compound their downward spiral.

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Newcastle United

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Sunday, 4:30pm Local, 11:30am Eastern

The weekend concludes with a match that truly confounds the mind. Tottenham have skidded to 5th place, only above Manchester United on goal difference. They’ve been absolutely battered by injuries, and they’ve been unable to maintain their early season dominance. Newcastle - who are, if possible, even more smashed by missing players - have fluctuated between dominance (Manchester United) and surrender (Everton). Ange Postecoglou is going to remain true to his style, that much is clear. His high-line, aggressive tactics are gospel, and this actually may be a good opportunity to take advantage of a weakened opponent. Son Heung-min, Brennan Johnson, and Dejan Kulusevski are likely to start, and that triumvirate may have more than enough for the Magpies, especially away from home.

Their capitulation to Everton will still be stinging Newcastle, and now they have another week ahead of them with midweek football. Eddie Howe’s side have performed resiliently and often times looked like world beaters, but the grind of the season may be too much for the thin squad. Tottenham aren’t the juggernauts they seemed earlier in the campaign, so - were the Magpies able to play like they did against Manchester United - they may be able to hang a result on their hosts. Anthony Gordon is likely to be key, and Martin Dúbravka will need to raise his level while filling in for the injured Nick Pope.