MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 18, 2015: Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger during the Premier League match against Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool vs. Arsenal dominates the weekend action – Premier League Preview

Another weekend of Premier League football beckons, and Liverpool’s clash with Arsenal at Anfield catches the eye even for the neutrals.

It was a nervy but ultimately successful weekend for the Reds last time around, with Sadio Mane‘s second-half strike earning a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Elsewhere, Chelsea bounced back from opening day defeat to stun Tottenham at Wembley, while London rivals Arsenal were beaten at Stoke City.

Man United kept up their 100 per cent record with a win over Swansea City, Man City and Everton drew 1-1 at the Etihad, and newcomers Huddersfield Town were victorious again.

Ten more top flight matches await us this weekend before the tedium of an international break – here’s the best of the action to look out for.

 

Anfield clash the pick of the action

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, March 4, 2017: Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger looks on as Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp celebrates the third goal during the FA Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The heavyweight sporting contest of the weekend takes place at Anfield, far more entertaining than Conor McGregor’s fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Liverpool host Arsenal, in what should be an end-to-end match full of attacking football, with neither top-six rival wanting a defeat heading into the internationals.

Both teams are unpredictable and defensively shaky, and the victor is likely to be decided by which attack clicks most.

Arsenal‘s loss at Stoke has once again heaped pressure on Arsene Wenger, and this represents a wonderful chance for the Reds to inflict more damage on the north Londoners.

There have been 20 goals in the last four games at Anfield in this fixture – expect more of the same this weekend.

 

Time for United to drop points?

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 15, 2017: Manchester United's goalkeeper David de Gea in action against Liverpool during the FA Premier League match at Old Trafford. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

It has been an ominous start to the season by Man United, even if they have come up against two insipid sides in West Ham and Swansea.

Jose Mourinho has a strong record in his second season at clubs, winning the league title every time, and his United outfit look far stronger than last year.

Saturday’s visit of Leicester will be their sternest test yet, with the Foxes looking a strong unit – one who were unfortunate to lose at Arsenal on the opening weekend.

Three wins out of three still looks likely for United, however, with the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan starting the campaign in depressingly impressive fashion.

It is ridiculously early to be making any kind of judgement, but their rivals won’t want them pulling clear as we head towards the autumn. Once a Mourinho team goes top they are hard to catch, as much as we don’t want to hear that.

 

Another stern test of Everton’s credentials

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 13, 2016: Everton's manager Ronald Koeman during the FA Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Everton came so close to winning at Man City on Monday night, but a negative approach again cost them away to a top club.

Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals had a man extra for much of the second-half, but a late strike from former Red Raheem Sterling salvaged a point for the hosts.

Next up for Ronald Koeman’s men is a trip to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, in what is a horrible run of fixtures for the Blues that also includes back-to-back clashes with Spurs and United.

Chelsea will be buoyed by their 2-1 win at Wembley last weekend, and after the horrors of their defeat to Burnley a fortnight ago, they will be keen to give the home crowd a much-improved performance.

Everton showed signs against City that they will be better against the title-chasing teams this season – this will be another test to see how far they have come.

 

Pressure on newly-promoted pair to get off the mark

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Tuesday, March 25, 2014: A general view of St James' Park, home of Newcastle United, before the Premiership match against Everton. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

There’s nothing worse than a slow start to life in the Premier League, and while Huddersfield have hit the ground running, Newcastle and Brighton are still looking for their first points.

In fairness to the Seagulls, matches against City and Leicester have not been easy, while Newcastle had 10 men for much of their opener against Spurs.

That said, both newly-promoted sides must get off the mark sooner rather than later, especially Newcastle, whose supporters are growing increasingly disgruntled by a lack of transfer activity.

This weekend, Brighton head to Watford and the Magpies host West Ham, both of which have to be considered very winnable games.

If the pair are on zero points after three matches, concern will start to grow among their respective fanbases.

 

Fixtures, UK TV Info & Predictions

LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 28, 2016: Manchester City's manager Pep Guardiola during the FA Premier League match against West Ham United at the City of Manchester Stadium Lane. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Saturday

Bournemouth vs. Man City – 12:30pm, Sky Sports Main Event
Prediction: 1-3

Crystal Palace vs. Swansea – 3pm
Prediction: 2-1

Huddersfield vs. Southampton – 3pm
Prediction: 1-1

Newcastle vs. West Ham – 3pm
Prediction: 2-1

Watford vs. Brighton – 3pm
Prediction: 2-0

Man United vs. Leicester – 5:30pm, BT Sport 1
Prediction: 2-0

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 19, 2017: Liverpool's Sadio Mane celebrates scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Sunday

Chelsea vs. Everton – 1:30pm
Prediction: 2-1

West Brom vs. Stoke – 1:30pm, Sky Sports Main Event
Prediction: 1-1

Liverpool vs. Arsenal – 4pm, Sky Sports Main Event
Prediction: 3-2

Tottenham vs. Burnley – 4pm
Prediction: 3-0

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