After the spoils and thrills of the opening weekend, it is now time to look ahead to Game Week Two as League leaders Manchester United travel to Wales and Slaven Bilic’s boys will be hoping jump off bottom place on The South-Coast in the second round of matches in the 2017/2018 Premier League season.
The first Premier League clash of the weekend sees League leaders Manchester United travel to The Liberty Stadium in search of continuing their 100% record. The Red Devils overcame The Hammers in emphatic style with a brace from new signing Romelu Lukaku at Old Trafford last Sunday, as they look to contend for a 21st Premier League Title.
However, standing in their way is a stern Swansea City side under Paul Clement, who will prove no easy push over at home. The Swans will be satisfied with last weekend’s effort as they held out for a point at St Mary’s to see them sit in their predicted position in mid-table after the opening weekend. The Welshmen will also be without star man Gylfi Sigurdsson after the Iceland international completed his move to Everton, making Jose Mourinho’s men the clear favourites to prevail in front of the Sky Cameras.
One of five Saturday 3PM kick-offs, holds a tasty clash on The South-Coast, as Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth take on Marco Silva’s Watford at The Vitality Stadium. The Cherries started their 2017/2018 Premier League campaign with a disappointing loss at the hands of West Brom, despite an impressive performance at The Hawthorns.
Whereas, The Hornets were involved in a thriller at Vicarage Road, as they scored a late leveller through Miguel Britos to salvage a 3-3 draw against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. However, Bournemouth have proved tough to beat in their own back yard during their first two seasons in The Premier League, and are set for their first points of the season against The Golden Boys.
For the 170th time in Competition Football, we face up against The Saints on Saturday, hoping to climb off 20th place and get our season back on track. The fixture was originally scheduled to take place at The London Stadium, but was forced to be switched to The St Mary’s Stadium due to the 2017 World Athletics Championships that are taking place in Stratford.
Despite our side’s poor overall record away at Southampton, we managed to register a 1-3 at St Mary’s last season thanks to goals from Andy Carroll, Pedro Obiang and Mark Noble. However, Southampton are now under new management in the form of Mauricio Pellegrino, who has a good chance of picking up his first Saints victory, after frustration against Swansea City last week.
2015/2016 Premier League Champions’ Leicester City will face-off with newly-promoted Brighton & Hove Albion at The King Power Stadium in another Saturday-afternoon clash. The Foxes were edged out 4-3 in an incredible season opening clash last Friday night at The Emirates, with Chris Hughton’s men being defeated by Manchester City in their first ever Premier League clash at The Amex Stadium.
While the Craig Shakespeare’s side do look favourites to take their first points of the campaign, The Seagulls will be determined to lay the demons of their opening defeat to rest with an unlikely away victory.
Two of the sides who have been tipped for Relegation will meet at Turf Moor, as Sean Dyche’s Burnley take on Tony Pulis’s West Brom on the first day of Game Week Two action.
However, neither side threatened to fit up to their prediction last week, as The Baggies overcame Bournemouth at The Hawthorns, and The Clarets pulled off an incredible victory at Stamford Bridge. It looks set to be a fascinating encounter in The Midlands, that could go down to the wire.
In the weekend’s final Saturday 3PM encounter, a desperate Crystal Palace under Frank De Boer will be hoping to emulate their superb victory at Anfield last term. Whereas, The Reds, who came agonisingly close to an opening three-points at Vicarage Road last week, will be looking to get their season on track.
The visitors were condemned to an embarrassing defeat by new-boys Huddersfield Town at Selhurst Park last time out and the Palace faithful are demanding a reaction. However, Jurgen Klopp’s men are favourites to add to their misery by extending their impressive record at the newly-redeveloped Anfield.
The day’s late kick off on BT Sport is an exciting prospect at The Bet 365 Stadium, as The Gunners face off with The Potters. Arsene Wenger’s men are fresh from eight-days of rest following their Friday night victory over Leicester City, with Mark Hughes’ boys entering the clash after an opening defeat at Goodison Park.
Arsenal have ruled the roost in recent years between the two-sides, but the Boys in Red & White could include new signing Jese Rodriguez from PSG in their starting Xl. So, will The Potters’ glamorous new man be able to get in the way of Arsenal’s quest for an early 100% record.
The first Super Sunday clash of the weekend sees a Premier League debut for The John Smith’s Stadium as a venue, with Huddersfield Town taking on fellow new-comers Newcastle United in the Sunday early kick-off.
Rafa Benitez’s Magpies are the favourites heading into the clash, but travel without captain Jonjo Shelvey who was sent-off in last week’s home loss to Spurs. However, David Wagner’s boys are on a high after pulling off one of the shocks of Match Day One by beating Frank De Boer’s Crystal Palace 0-3 at Selhurst Park. So, with The Terriers’ first ever home Top-Flight game poised to be an interesting encounter, you can catch the tie-on Sky Sports Premier League with a 1:30PM start.
In what is surely the pick of Match Day Two’s fixtures, two Premier League giants go toe to toe at Wembley Stadium as last year’s Champions face last year’s runners up. Mauricio Pochettino’s men, who are in the midst of a one-off season at Wembley whilst their new-Ground is being completed, came out 0-2 winners at the hands of Newcastle United last time out.
Meanwhile, Antonio Conte’s men are enduring torrid times on and off the pitch, with tensions coming to a boil in the 2-3 defeat to Burnley last weekend, where Chelsea ended the game with nine-men. However, the likes of £75-million-man Alvaro Morata and journeyman David Luiz still managed to impress for the home side in the defeat. So, with the Sky Sports Super Sunday clash expected to be an absolute classic, who will come out on top in West-London?
Monday-Night will bring the first MNF tie of the new season, as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City face Ronald Koeman’s Everton at The Etihad Stadium. Both sides got their Premier League campaigns started with wins at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion and Stoke City respectively and sit in 3rd and 7th place.
The last time that the two managers faced off, Tom Davies stole the headlines with a Man of the Match performance. However, it could be the turn of new-man Gylfi Sigurdsson to be a match winner for The Toffees, but with City’s vast array of talent and impressive home record, it is hard to see that happening in Manchester.
So, with Match Week Two of the Premier League season set to bring as much goal mouth action and excitement as the first, who will come away with the headlines and ensure a fantastic weekend of Football?