The Carabao Cup took centre stage during mid-week but focus is now entirely back on the Premier League. There are a number of intriguing match-ups this weekend and an upset or two could be on the cards. Here’s your weekend preview.
By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert
Momentum matters
Both Aston Villa and Brighton have had a strange couple of weeks.
Villa lost in the Europa Conference League to Legia Warsaw before beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to climb up to sixth in the table. However, they were then knocked out of the Carabao Cup at home to Everton, losing 2-1.
Brighton suffered defeat against AEK Athens at home in the Europa League before bouncing back in the Premier League to beat Bournemouth to rise to third spot in the English top-flight having taken 15 points from a possible 18. Roberto De Zerbi named a fairly strong XI for their trip to Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup but his side lost 1-0.
The Villans now host the Seagulls in the early kick-off on Saturday with both hoping they can get back to winning ways.
De Zerbi’s side are the top scorers in the Premier League with 18 while only the bottom five teams have conceded more goals than Unai Emery’s men (10). Interestingly, though, only five teams have a higher goals tally than Villa. This has the potential to be a game that neutrals will not want to miss.
Into the Wolves den
Manchester City’s winning start to the 2023/24 campaign came to an end this week when they lost 1-0 to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup. They travel to Wolves this weekend looking to keep the only 100% record in the Premier League alive.
The hosts aren’t in great form. They could only manage a draw against Luton Town last weekend and then Ipswich Town knocked them out of the Carabao Cup in mid-week, coming back from 2-0 down to defeat Gary O’Neil’s men 3-2.
On paper, this should be a banker for the champions. Wolves, on average, are conceding two goals per game this season in the English top-flight while underperforming in attack having managed just six goals from an Expected Goals total of eight.
But stranger things have happened. City are still without the suspended Rodri and they have an away trip to RB Leipzig in the Champions League coming up. If ever there’s a moment for Wolves to cause an upset, it might be right now.
The season starts now for Everton
The Toffees had a disappointing start to the campaign but registered their first win of the season last weekend against Brentford. They then followed that up with a victory over Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup and they have the perfect opportunity to make it three wins on the spin this weekend as they welcome a struggling Luton Town to Goodison Park.
It is quite simple, really. A win lifts them away from a relegation battle. A defeat drags them right back into it. Sean Dyche’s side will be confident of picking up all three points following impressive displays in their last two outings.
The Merseysiders had massively underperformed in attack, creating chances worth 9.5 Expected Goals but scoring just five goals. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has two in two though and his return to form could see the Toffees turn opportunities into goals. Luton are conceding, on average, over two goals per game this season and Rob Edwards’ side are struggling defensively.
It could be the perfect storm for the hosts.
A big test for Liverpool
The Reds make the trip to London this weekend to take on an in-form Tottenham Hotspur side. It is easily the toughest match of the season so far for Jürgen Klopp’s side as it pits two teams with unbeaten records against one another.
Just two points separate these teams and they’ve both scored 15 goals in their six outings. Liverpool have conceded fewer goals (five to seven) but it has to be said that Spurs have had the tougher fixtures having already faced Arsenal and Manchester United.
The game sees two of the best playmakers this season come face to face in James Maddison and Mohamed Salah. The pair have assisted four goals each in their six appearances. It also sees two in-form strikers facing off. Heung-Min Son has five goals in the Premier League already while Darwin Nunez has three goals and an assist in 221 minutes.
Spurs are due a win over Liverpool. They have just one victory over the Reds in the last 20 meetings and that arrived in 2017. Klopp has masterminded nine wins in the 12 games since.
Monday night mayhem
The final match of matchday seven sees Chelsea travel to near-neighbours Fulham. The Blues got back to winning ways in the Carabao Cup this week, beating Brighton 1-0 to progress. Fulham were also victorious, beating Norwich City 2-1 at Craven Cottage.
It was an important win for Mauricio Pochettino’s men as it ended their winless run. They will now be looking to build on this and while victory at Craven Cottage wouldn’t necessarily be a statement one, it could be vital in the grand scheme of things. The Blues face Arsenal, Spurs, Manchester City, Brighton and Manchester United in what is a nightmare run of fixtures over the coming weeks and they desperately need points of the board and confidence in the bank.
A win here could do wonders for the Blues. Fulham will be looking to extend their unbeaten run against Chelsea to three. All three points at home could see them climb into the top half of the table, too.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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