After a slow-burning international break, we can finally prepare ourselves for the ten Premier League fixtures distributed over Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
With tantalizing matches such as the early kick off between Liverpool and Manchester United, football fans all around the country will be desperate for Saturday to arrive.
We have taken a selection of the best upcoming games to analyse and predict, whilst offering the team news and key injuries in the following preview.
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Predictions
Liverpool vs Manchester United (12:30pm, Saturday)
Liverpool 1 - 2 Manchester United
Liverpool have an impressive record against the top six in recent years, having picked up 36 points from 20 games against Chelsea, Spurs, Man Utd, Man City and Arsenal since Klopp's appointment.
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No other side has picked up more points against these sides since the former Borussia Dortmund manager arrived at Anfield. However, with Sadio Mane side-lined for six weeks with a hamstring injury, Liverpool's reliable attacking four has been blemished. Manchester United have been hit with injuries to three first-team midfielders, as Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini and captain Michael Carrick are all set to miss out.
However, with Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera fit to start, Jose Mourinho should still have enough assets in midfield to put out a strong side at Anfield. Despite Liverpool missing Mane, they still should have enough strength in attack to score at home, whilst Lukaku will be a likely goal scorer after finding the net off the bench in Belgium's final World Cup qualifier.
I can see the away side taking advantage of a leaky Liverpool defence and the tiredness of Coutinho and Firmino, who returned to England from Chile on Wednesday (a 15-hour flight). If you are a betting man, I would advise placing your money on a 2-1 win for Manchester United.
Manchester City vs Stoke City (3pm, Saturday)
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Manchester City 3 - 0 Stoke City
Manchester City will be looking to maintain their first-place position in the table with a win at home to Stoke.
The league leaders come into this match off the back of an impressive away win against reigning champions Chelsea, with Kevin De Bruyne scoring a sublime goal. Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan will be in contention for a starting place after recovering from their injuries. Benjamin Mendy is the only major blow for Pep Guardiola's side.
For Stoke City, captain Ryan Shawcross remains side-lined whilst Joe Allen and Bruno Martins Indi are doubts.
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Manchester City have won their last two home games 5-0, against sides that are at a similar challenging level to Stoke this season. With Stoke experiencing an average start to their Premier League season, I expect Manchester City to coast this one 3-0.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Bournemouth (3pm, Saturday)
Tottenham 2 - 0 Bournemouth
Neither side come into this fixture having suffered major injuries, however Tottenham will need to be cautious with their first-team players due to their Champions League game against Real Madrid just four days later.
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Whilst Mauricio Pochettino would like to rest players such as Kane and Dele, this is still a must-win game for Spurs, since they have not won a match at Wembley this season. If Pochettino decides to use his in-form striker Harry Kane, who has scored 15 goals in his last 10 games for club and country, then he is the man who could scrape a rested Tottenham squad through this match.
Bournemouth remain in 19th place this season and their big summer signings have failed to hit the ground running. I believe Tottenham will have too much quality for Bournemouth to handle here.
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea (3pm, Saturday)
Crystal Palace 0 - 2 Chelsea
Everyone is aware that Palace have not won a game or even scored a goal this season, whilst their main striker Christian Benteke faces a long spell on the side-lines. One of their brighter players this season, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, is not eligible to play against his parent club.
Chelsea have displayed better performances away from home this season, however key striker Alvaro Morata and PFA Player of the Year N'golo Kante are both set to miss out on this weekend's fixture. Despite this setback, Antonio Conte will be aware that this is a must-win game to keep up with the title contenders, after a 1-0 loss to Manchester City.
Unfortunately for Crystal Palace, it looks unlikely that they will be picking up their first points of the season this weekend, however I expect them to return on track after this match when they have a much easier run of games. Nevertheless, I will not be surprised to see Chelsea dominate this game with at least a 2-0 victory.
Southampton vs Newcastle (4pm, Sunday)
Southampton 1 - 1 Newcastle
This should be an interesting game with a win for Southampton taking them above Newcastle in the table, so it would be an important three points for either side. Southampton have struggled with goals this season, only having scored five.
Rafa Benitez has managed Newcastle to a solid start to the season as the visitors sit in 9th place, with Matt Ritchie and Joselu impressing. Southampton have failed to win a home game so far this season, and I can see Newcastle pouncing on their low confidence.
However, with Mauricio Pellegrino expected to make significant rotations and formation changes, he cannot afford to lose at home again. Nevertheless, it is likely that Newcastle could salvage a point at the St Mary's stadium.
Talking points
Can Crystal Palace finally score a goal at the weekend?
Seven games. Zero goals scored. Seventeen conceded. It only took four games for Steve Parish to sack Frank De Boer after conceding seven and not scoring a goal. However, results have got even worse since Roy Hodgson's arrival, having conceded another ten goals in the next three games, still without scoring.
Nevertheless, Chelsea have conceded the most goals in the top four, including three against Burnley at home. If Bacary Sako can fill the shoes of the injured Christian Benteke, perhaps Crystal Palace can enjoy something this weekend with a goal at home.
Could Slaven Bilic get the sack with a loss at Turf Moor on Saturday?
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic immediately lit up Upton Park in its final ever season, helping the Hammers to a respectable 7th place finish. However, the London Stadium has not offered the same intense atmosphere as their old ground, with results from the 2015/16 season not transferring over to Stratford either.
Slaven Bilic has had many close shaves with David Sullivan in the last two seasons, having had three or four "win or be sacked" fixtures - Swansea at home 2016/17, Huddersfield at home 2017/18 and Swansea at home 2017/18 to name a few. Another loss to Burnley this weekend would see most of the West Ham fans wish the Croatian to exit the club, although Sullivan and Gold will be hoping that they can wait for his contract to run out at the end of the season.
Will Tottenham manage to win at home for the first time this season?
Tottenham Hotspur have struggled on the broad Wembley pitch in the first three Premier League games, having lost 1-2 to Chelsea, drawn 1-1 with Burnley and drawn 0-0 with Swansea. Pochettino's men have managed to stay in the title challenge with wins away from home against Newcastle, Everton, West Ham and Huddersfield. Although if Tottenham continue to struggle at home then they will fall short of the title, therefore their game against Bournemouth is a must-win.
Tottenham really need to prove that Wembley will not be the obstacle to what would be their first ever Premier League title.
Preview by Matthew Jones (@MatthewJ_Joness)
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Liverpool, Manchester United, Premier League