Premier League Preview Week 2
The Premier League returned in spectacular fashion last weekend with 23 goals across eight matches.
Liverpool and Leeds United played a seven-goal thriller as Jurgen Klopp’s side began their title defence with three points at Anfield. Arsenal and Leicester recorded 3-0 victories over newly promoted Fulham and West Brom and host of new Chelsea arrivals made debuts in the 3-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion.
A full fixture list takes place this weekend with Manchester United and Manchester City back in action after their extended pre-season while Burnley and Aston Villa also return. There’s plenty of exciting fixtures coming this weekend with Premier League new boys Leeds and Fulham facing each other at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon. Wolves will also be looking to make it three wins in three over City on Sunday. But the pick of the fixtures comes from Stamford Bridge as the Blues host Liverpool in what is a great chance for either side to make an early statement for the league title this season.
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Leeds v Fulham
Leeds ran Liverpool right to the wire in their first game back in the Premier League for 16 years. Marcelo Bielsa’s side were clinical, scoring three of their six shots and enjoyed the majority of possession (52%). Leeds are unbeaten at Ellland Road in their last eight matches, winning seven and drawing just one and they only lost three of their 23 homes games in the Championship last season.
Fulham struggled to get a foothold in the game against Arsenal and were outplayed for most of their 3-0 opening day loss. Scott Parker’s side had the third best defensive record in the Championship last year and have kept five clean sheets in their last nine (Premier League and Championship). Fulham also have a good recent record against Leeds, losing just once in their last six meetings.
Both Leeds and Fulham will know the importance of getting points on the board in this early season fixture. However, despite Leeds’ positive approach, Fulham may be able to contain the home side and a low-scoring draw could be likely.
Gaetano Berardi (knee) and Adam Forshaw (groin) will be unavailable for Leeds but Liam Cooper could return from a recent calf injury. Fulham have no fresh injuries or suspensions.
Manchester United v Crystal Palace
Manchester United were in exceptional form towards the end of the last season. Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s side went unbeaten since January, winning nine and drawing four. The Red Devils only lost twice in the Premier League at Old Trafford last season, dropping points to Burnley and Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace registered their first Premier League win in eight matches with their opening day 1-0 victory over Southampton. It was also the first clean sheet in eight matches for Roy Hodgson’s side, who lost seven matches and drew one towards the end of the 2019/20 campaign. Despite their 2-1 win over United last season, Palace have a poor record at Old Trafford. They have won once, lost five, scored just two, and conceded 10 in their last six visits to Manchester.
Phil Jones (knee) and Axel Tuanzebe (ankle) are both ruled out for Manchester United but Paul Pogba could return after missing out recently due to contracting coronavirus. Crystal Palace will be without Christian Benteke (ankle), Gary Cahill (thigh), Patrick Van-Aanholt (shoulder), James Tomkins (thigh), Nathan Fergusson (knee), and Conor Wickham (undisclosed).
Chelsea v Liverpool
There was intrigue about how Chelsea and their new signings would perform against Brighton last weekend. But, despite winning 3-1, the Blues were largely convincing. Brighton created more chances, had 13 shots to Chelsea’s 10 and Frank Lampard’s side looked off the pace. However, Chelsea’s recent home record in the Premier League is strong as they have won six straight matches at Stamford Bridge, conceding just one and scoring 14.
Liverpool were largely dominant against Leeds but were wasteful. A late Mohammed Salah spared them an opening day draw. The Red’s form dipped towards the end of the 2019/20 title-winning campaign as they dropped points in five of their final 11 matches, with four of these happening away from home. They have won just two of their last six away Premier League matches.
Although Chelsea are strong at home, Liverpool have a bit more cohesiveness at the moment, while Chelsea’s new signings settle in. It will be a few months of tweaking and changing for Lampard and Liverpool’s consistency will see them win at Stamford Bridge this weekend.
Billy Gilmour and Hakim Ziyech are both ruled out for Chelsea with knee injuries. But Mateo Kovacic (suspension), Ben Chilwell (ankle) and Thiago Silva (knock) Christian Pulisic (thigh) look set to return. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin will be out for Liverpool with a knee injury but Xherdan Shaqiri and new signing Konstantinos Tsimikas will be available for selection.
Wolves v Manchester City
Wolves started well in their 2-0 win over Sheffield United last weekend. Two goals in the first 10 minutes from Raul Jimenez and Romain Saiss were enough to see Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to a comprehensive opening day win. Wolves have an excellent record over City, beating them twice last year and losing just once in their last six meetings.
Man City will be determined to put the 2019/20 season behind them and Pep Guardiola will want to make last year’s 18-point deficit to Liverpool this season. They ended the season strongly last year, comprehensively winning all five of their last five matches, scoring 21 in the process. But their away form was not as good as they lost three of their final five matches on the road and dropped points in eight games (drew one, lost seven) overall away from the Etihad throughout the entire season.
Wolves lost four games at Molineux last season but drew seven. They are hard to beat and City will be a tough opening home game for them, but Espirito Santo’s side has enough quality to earn a point against Guardiola’s City this weekend.
Jonny remains the only absentee for Wolves with an ACL injury. Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte are both doubtful for City after testing positive for COVID-19 recently. Bernardo Silva (thigh) and Sergio Agureo (knee) are also ruled out.
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