SATURDAY:
NEWCASTLE V MAN CITY
Newcastle won this fixture in the Carabao Cup last season where Man City were without Rodri, who was suspended.
City will be without Rodri again in this one after picking up a knee injury in their draw with Arsenal last weekend. Reports say that they could be without him for some time which would no doubt be a catastrophic blow for them.
Mateo Kovacic did step up in his absence in their first few games of the season and did a pretty decent job. But he's a different kind of player to Rodri, who is arguably City's most important player and the one they can't do without.
Newcastle will have Alexander Isak back for this after missing their defeat at Fulham last weekend due to injury. His return will be a major boost for the Magpies in this one and especially with it being against a side like City.
Eddie Howe's side are yet to play at their best this season, but with City being without Rodri and potentially Kevin De Bruyne, I fancy them to pull off a result here.
PREDICTION: 2-1
ARSENAL V LEICESTER
Arsenal showed their quality against Bolton in the Carabao Cup in midweek where they did make a few changes.
Raheem Sterling stood out in that game and Mikel Arteta might consider starting him in this one because it. Especially with Leandro Trossard suspended.
Leicester needed penalties and some heroics from keeper Danny Ward to get past Walsall in the Carabao Cup in midweek during which they were booed off at full time.
Those boos were mostly directed towards manager Steve Cooper who now appears to be under pressure from the supporters.
The Foxes should still give Cooper time as it' still early in the season. But he does need to get results quickly if he's to win the fans over.
Arsenal have been rigid in their last two games because of the opponents they've faced and the players they've been without. But I think they'll free themselves up here and produce a fluid performance.
PREDICTION: 2-0
BRENTFORD V WEST HAM
Brentford have won every home game against West Ham in the Premier League and have won both of their home games so far this season, against Crystal Palace and Southampton.
This game will arguably be more challenging than the other two as they're going to be without Yoane Wissa, who is out injured for two months. But they'll still fancy themselves to win here because of the form West Ham are in.
It hasn't been a great start for West Ham under Julen Lopetegui and they come into this game off the back of conceding eight goals in a week.
They looked disorganised defensively against Chelsea last weekend before being heavily beaten by Liverpool in the Carabao Cup in midweek, despite having some decent chances.
Brentford are a dangerous side going forward and with the threat they pose on the break, I can see them add to the Hammers' defensive woes.
PREDICTION: 2-0
CHELSEA V BRIGHTON
Chelsea have started the season pretty well considering everything that went on in the summer and they certainly look great to watch going forward.
Nicolas Jackson in particular has started the season in good form and with the current form he's in, he might be starting to silence his doubters.
Brighton are still unbeaten under Fabian Hurzeler, but I think that run is going to come to an end here.
Their high-line has been exploited on a few occasions this season including a number of times against Nottingham Forest.
I think Chelsea will exploit that here with the pace and quality they have in their attack.
PREDICTION: 3-1
EVERTON V CRYSTAL PALACE
Everton will have been happy to get their first point of the season last weekend against Leicester, but they'll be disappointed that they didn't see the game out after missing a lot of good chances.
Off the pitch they will have been delighted to hear the news that a deal has been agreed with the Friedkin Group to take over the club. The fans will be excited to hear that news after years of stagnation under Farhad Moshiri.
Crystal Palace are still waiting for their first win of the season, but there have been some encouraging signs in their performances.
I think this will be the game where they finally get off the mark as they'll have enough from an attacking sense to win the game.
PREDICTION: 1-3
NOTTINGHAM FOREST V FULHAM
Both sides have made reasonably good starts to the season and they'll both want to keep it up in this game.
Nottingham Forest have started the better as they're a place higher and are unbeaten in the league.
But they're going to be without star man Morgan Gibbs-White who is suspended after picking up a red card against Brighton last weekend.
Fulham haven't lost since losing to Man United on the opening day and they were very good last time out against Newcastle.
Emile Smith Rowe has arguably been their standout performer this season and if he keeps up the form he's in, he could be the Cottagers' main man.
Marco Silva's side are however not the best away from home and because of that, I think the points will shared here.
PREDICTION: 1-1
WOLVES V LIVERPOOL
It hasn't been a good start to the season from Wolves and you can argue that the fixture list hasn't been kind to them. They've already faced four of last seasons top seven in Arsenal, Chelsea, Villa and Newcastle and they have two more coming up including this one and a clash against Man City next month.
I still think Gary O'Neil can turn it around as he's more than proved himself to be good enough to manage in the Premier League in the last two seasons.
Liverpool made a lot of changes against West Ham in the Carabao Cup in midweek, but it didn't seem to affect them as the player that came in stepped up brilliantly.
Bar from the Forest defeat, the reds have looked pretty good under Arne Slot under whom they are more of a possession based side. But the high press and energy from the Klopp days is till there.
I can see them keep up their strong start with another controlled performance here.
PREDICTION: 0-3
SUNDAY:
IPSWICH V ASTON VILLA
Ipswich are still waiting for their first win back in the top flight, but they have shown resilience in the majority of their games so far.
Aston Villa made a lot of changes against Wycombe in the Carabao Cup in midweek and they'll be expected to bring their big hitters back into the fold for this one.
I wonder if Unai Emery will ever consider playing Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran as a front two due to the form Duran has been on this season.
They made the right decision in keeping him during the summer as he's again proved himself to be a valuable impact player from the bench. He's made a case for himself to start more games with the form he;s been in this season.
I think Ipswich will make it difficult for Villa here as they're at home and will have the crowd behind them.
But I think Villa will find a way to win with both Watkins and Duran scoring. The latter being from the bench again.
PREDICTION: 0-2
MAN UNITED V TOTTENHAM
Man United played better than I thought they would against Crystal Palace last weekend in that they created a lot of chance. But they didn't have someone to put them away.
Scoring goals was United's Achilles heal last season and and it appears to be that way again this season.
Ramus Hojlund coming back from injury is a major boost, but he's still a young player and not the calibre of player to help take United to the next level.
Spurs got a much needed win last time out against Brentford where their performance was much improved as well.
That win in some peoples eyes will have relieved the pressure on Ange Postecoglou, not that there wasn't any to begin with despite his sides' slow start and his comment about winning things in his second season.
Spurs don't have a great record against the big teams and I can see that trend carrying on here.
United might not be the most convincing team to watch, but I do think they'll exploit the spaces that Spurs leave in behind their defence and win the game.
PREDICTION: 2-1
BOURNEMOUTH V SOUTHAMPTON
This might be the first time where Bournemouth head into a South Coast clash against Southampton as favourites.
I'd certainly make them favourites as they're higher up the league and are in their third season back in the Premier League.
Southampton got their first point back in the top flight against Ipswich last weekend which will give them something to build on. But they will have felt disappointed that they weren't able to hold on after leading for most of the match.
The Saints will have most of the possession in this one as they're a possession based side. But I don't see them making the most of it as they don't have someone who can out the ball in the net on a regular basis.
They've also been caught out when trying to play out from the back and with Bournemouth being a high pressing team, I can see them punish Russel Martin's side and win the game.
PREDICTION: 2-0
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