The early pace-setters Manchester United welcome Leicester City to Old Trafford in the late kick-off on Saturday to round off a fine afternoon of fixtures. Super Sunday sees Champions Chelsea host Everton followed by the most mouth-watering of fixtures that will see Liverpool and Arsenal lock horns at Anfield.
Full EPL weekend fixtures:
Saturday August 26th
Bournemouth vs Man City
Watford vs Brighton
Newcastle vs West Ham
Crystal Palace vs Swansea
Huddersfield vs Southampton
Man United vs Leicester
Sunday August 27th
West Brom vs Stoke
Chelsea vs Everton
Tottenham vs Burnley
Liverpool vs Arsenal
Bournemouth vs Man City
Manchester City were fortunate to come away with something at home to Everton on Monday after former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney fired the Toffees into a first half-lead before 50-million-pound summer signing Kyle Walker was sent off for a second bookable offence. It was another man from Merseyside, however, Raheem Sterling who came off the bench to snatch a last-gasp point for Pep Guardiola’s side. They will travel to the south coast of England for Saturday’s early kick-off to take on Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth who are still seeking their first goal and first point if the campaign in what has been another stuttering start for the Cherries.
Sterling could be key once again to his sides chances on the weekend with his stellar record against Bournemouth worthy of a mention. He has scored 7 goals against them in just 5 matches in all competitions (5 goals in 4 league games) for both Liverpool and Man City including a stunning hat-trick at the Etihad a couple of seasons ago.
This will be just the 11th meeting between the two sides – Bournemouth still seeking their first ever victory over their more fancied opposition. Man City have scored 15 goals in their four Premier League encounters against Bournemouth. Eddie Howe’s men have scored just once against City in the same period.
Man United vs Leicester City
The Red Devils are in red-hot form right now and will be raring to go once again this weekend against 2015/16 Champions Leicester City after registering back-to-back 4-0 wins in their opening two gameweeks - United’s best scoring start for over 100 years. The Fearless Foxes look like they could be a force to be reckoned with again this season under the guidance of Craig Shakespeare. They were unfortunate not to come away with all 3 points on opening night against Arsenal but followed up that thrilling 4-3 defeat with a routine 2-0 home victory over newly promoted Brighton.
The news coming out of Manchester this week has all been about the return of The King – Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who penned a new one-year deal at United following his injury last season which brought about a premature end to his campaign and has many had feared, his Old Trafford career. He will not feature this weekend as he continues his recovery. On the field, however, all the talk has been about one man – Romelu Lukaku. The man who ‘replaced’ Zlatan at United in the summer has been key to the early season form. He has netted three times in his two outings thus far and looks well on his way to eclipsing his best-ever Premier League goal tally of 25 for Everton last season.
Mourinho’s men won the corresponding fixture last season with four first half goals in a game that saw Paul Pogba get on the scoresheet for the first time in the red of United since re-joining from Juventus.
Chelsea vs Everton
Goals, goals and more goals. That what fans can expect come Super Sunday when the blue half of London battle with the blue half of Merseyside. 53 goals have been scored in the last 16 matches between the sides at an average of 3.3 per game. Considering that 7 clean sheets were kept in those fixtures makes that feat even more remarkable.
Chelsea recovered from their shock opening day defeat to Burnley by beating rivals Tottenham at Wembley for their first win of the campaign. Everton look a really competitive outfit in 2017/18 after some hugely impressive signings so far this summer. Wayne Rooney returned to his boyhood club from Man United after 13 years and is the only player to score so far for Ronald Koeman’s men this season. He will be hoping to get amongst the goals once again on Sunday and prove that he truly can take the Toffees to the next level.