Following what was a long break from club football, the most exciting league in the world, the English Premier League, is back with week four round of matches.
It features some very tasty ties, with the early kickoff at the Etihad between Manchester City and Liverpool top of the pack.
League leaders, Manchester United also have a difficult game this weekend, as they travel to the Bet365 stadium to face Stoke City in a late kickoff, while at Goodison Park, a team will be happy to finally play away from their home..
It’s match day four preview, so, let’s get into it…
Manchester City vs Liverpool
These two sides are both contenders for the league title this season, and with two wins and a draw in their first three matches, the game at the Etihad is definitely poised to be pulsating.
City have fortified their defence with some good players added this summer, and will have to be at their best to stop the trio of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Robert Firmino who have been on fire this season.
The visitors go into this one very confident, following their thrashing of Arsenal i their last match and having had the better of their hosts in recent times, with four wins of in their last five meetings.
But with Champions League football in view, perhaps both managers will ring changes to their teams.
Prediction: Man City 1-2 Liverpool
Arsenal vs Bournemouth
Arsenal have had a difficult time the last couple of weeks, with players angling for moves away from the club, and their demolition at Anfield, before the break, which came at just the right time for the Gunners and their fans.
Since their incredible comeback win against Leicester in the season’s opener, the Gunners have lost their next two matches, scoring zero goals.
But with a return to the Emirates, and against Bournemouth, who are without a win this season, having lost all three games, and three of their last four against Arsene Wenger and his men, the Gunners will be hoping to bounce back.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth
Brighton vs West Bromwich Albion
Tony Pulis and his team have started the season in very good form, and will go into this match the most confident of the two sides, as they square up against each other for the first time in the PL since 1993.
Brighton had the best home record last season in the championship, but life in the PL has proven much more difficult for the Seagulls, who have just a point, after two defeats and a draw in their first three games.
While this isn’t the first meeting between both sides, WBA have dominated their past encounters, and go into this as favourites.
Prediction: Brighton 0-1 WBA
Everton vs Tottenham
The Toffees host Spurs with both teams looking for redemption, having won one, lost one and drawn one apiece.
Mauricio Pochettino and his team will be happy to finally play away from Wembley, where they have continued to struggled, though the last time they won at Goodison Park was on April 5, 2015.
Everton are still adjusting to life without Romelu Lukaku, who joined United in the summer, while Spurs would hope that top forward, Harry Kane can finally put his August hoodoo behind him.
Prediction: Everton 1- 1 Spurs
Leicester City vs Chelsea
The last two PL titles have gone to these two sides who meet at the King Power stadium, and both teams will be playing to win today.
The Blues will go into this the most confident, however, having come out of very tricky clashes between Everton and Tottenham unscathed, while the Foxes were beaten by United just before the break.
But if past encounters between the two are anything to go by, then, there is only one way this tie will end- in a win for the defending Champions, who welcome Eden Hazard back to their match day squad.
Prediction: Leicester 1-3 Chelsea
Southampton vs Watford
With an identical record of a win and two draws, the Saints welcome Marco Silva and his Watford side with both sides looking to add to their five points so far.
They both kept clean sheets in their last games, but the last time this encounter ended goalless was in August, two years ago.
Prediction: Southampton 1-1 Watford
Stoke City vs Manchester United
With three wins in three, and ten goals scored without conceding any, the Red Devils are flying and travel to Stoke hoping to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
However, the Bet365 stadium hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for José Mourinho’s side in recent times, and this will leave the Potters in a very buoyant mood.
Last time both sides met at Stoke, Mark Hughes and his side were denied all three points by a late Wayne Rooney goal, which was his 250th for the club, as he became the club’s all-time top scorer.
But Mourinho says while Stoke are a difficult side to play against, his United team this season are a different side.
Prediction: Stoke City 1-3 Man United
Sunday, September 10.
Burnley vs Crystal Palace
Burnley welcome Palace and their under-fire manager, Frank De Boer to Turf Moor looking to add to the Eagles’ misery.
The Clarets did the double over Palace last season, and will be the favourites going into this tie, especially after their impressive performance at Wembley against Spurs before the break.
For Palace and De Boer, they’d do well to avoid defeat, something they are yet to manage this season and a trip to Turf Moor means they may just have to wait longer for a positive result.
Prediction: Burnley 2-1 Palace
Swansea vs Newcastle United
A game that involves two sides who are still celebrating their first wins of the new campaign and will want to continue where they left off.
Paul Clement’s side have picked more wins at the Liberty stadium against the Magpies, and have won same number of matches as Man Utd in the PL in 2017- 10.
Prediction: Swansea 2-0 Newcastle
Westham vs Huddersfield
It’s been a difficult start to the season for Slaven Bilic’s side, a stark contrast to their visitors at the London stadium, Huddersfield, who are one of the newbies in the PL.
Huddersfield are third on the log on seven points and are yet to concede a goal in 270 minutes of PL football
However, despite a planned protest by fans of the Hammers, it seems Bilic and his side might be buoyed by the fact it’s their first home game of the season and that could have a positive effect on the players.
Prediction: West Ham 0-2 Huddersfield
