So, with barely any time to breathe between this week’s Carabao Cup action and the next round of League matches, we preview game week three of the 2017/2018 Premier League season as Super Sunday serves up a cracker at Anfield and Slaven Bilic’s men travel to the North East.
Bournemouth vs Manchester City (Saturday 12:30 PM)
In the Sky Live Saturday early kick-off, The Cherries entertain The Citizens at The Vitality Stadium in a fascinating match up.
Eddie Howe’s men have made a sluggish start to the season and have slumped to two defeats from their opening two games against West Brom and Watford respectively. Whereas, there have been mixed fortunes for Pep Guardiola and his side as they have taken four points from a possible six, but will count themselves lucky to have rescued a draw on Monday Night Football against Everton.
City have dominated this fixture in recent times and have a 100% record against The South Coast side in The Premier League, there could be yet more pressure on Eddie Howe come Saturday afternoon.
Glanville’s Prediction: 1-3.
Newcastle United vs West Ham United (Saturday 3 PM)
In what is surely a must-win encounter at St James’ Park for Slaven Bilic, we make the trip to face fellow strugglers Newcastle United, with both sides looking for their first points of the campaign.
For us, it has been a tale of misery so far with two painstaking losses at Old Trafford and The St Mary’s Stadium and our third League away game in a row is set to bring yet more of the same. Rafa Benitez’s Magpies are yet to register a Premier League goal, but have suffered lower margins of defeat and are home favorites in front of a packed St James’ Park for the tie.
However, our Mexican “Little Pea” has an astonishing record against Newcastle of late having scored in three of his last four starts against the club, and he comes into the game after scoring his first two goals in Claret & Blue last weekend.
Glanville’s Prediction: 3-2.
Huddersfield Town vs Southampton (Saturday 3 PM)
Two sides in fantastic form meet at The John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as Premier League newcomers Huddersfield Town welcome Mauricio Pellegrino’s Southampton.
The Terriers are in dream land after victory in their first ever Premier League games against Crystal Palace and Newcastle to open up their first Top-Flight campaign in 45 years. Whereas, the traveling Saints recorded their first win under their new boss last weekend over The Hammers and travel to Yorkshire with the stronger squad on paper.
Interestingly, with a victory on Saturday, David Wagner’s men will become the first newly-promoted side in 16 years to win their first three Premier League games.
Glanville’s Prediction: 2-1.
Watford vs Brighton & Hove Albion (Saturday 3 PM)
Chris Hughton’s Brighton will make only their second ever Premier League away trip on Saturday, as they face an in-form Watford side under new manager Marco Silva at Vicarage Road.
The Hornets have enjoyed a strong start to their third season back in The Top-Flight and sit in fourth place after Game Week Two. However, it has been a nightmare start for The Seagulls, who have been brought back down to Earth after their promotion from The Championship in May, as they slumped to defeats against Manchester City and Leicester City in their opening games.
The clash is surely a must-win for the side from The South Coast and they will not draw any fond memories from their last encounter with The Hornets, as they were beaten at The Amex in April 2015 by the side.
Glanville’s Prediction: 2-0.
Crystal Palace vs Swansea City (Saturday 3 PM)
In the last of the Saturday afternoon games, Frank De Boer will be hoping for a first win as Eagles boss when they host Swansea City at Selhurst Park.
The hosts are entering the tie off the back of consecutive League defeats, including a remarkable 0-3 embarrassment by new boys Huddersfield Town on the opening day. Paul Clement’s Swans have fared no better and became the second team to be hit for four by Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United last Saturday, but did pick up an impressive point at The St Mary’s Stadium a fortnight ago.
The two sides have only met a mere 27 times in Competition Football, with Palace victorious 12 times, The Swans five times, and 10 times the spoils have been shared.
Glanville’s Prediction: 0-1.
Manchester United vs Leicester City (Saturday 5:30 PM)
In BT Sport’s Saturday night Live fixture, the League leaders’ Manchester United face their sternest test of the campaign to date, the visit of Craig Shakespeare’s Foxes.
The Red Devils have lived up to their billing of 2017/2018 Premier League Champions with two 4-0 thrashings over West Ham United and Swansea City from their opening games. Meanwhile, Leicester have endured an up and down start to their second season since becoming Premier League Winners themselves in the remarkable 2015/2016 season, beating Brighton last weekend but succumbing to a 4-3 loss at The Emirates on Friday Night Football.
In-form Armenian International winger Henrik Mkhitaryan could prove to be the difference for the hosts, as he looks to become the only player in Top-Flight history to register two assists in three consecutive games.
Glanville’s Prediction: 3-0.
Chelsea vs Everton (Sunday 1:30 PM)
In one of a bizarre four Premier League fixtures on Sunday afternoon, a strong Everton side will look to continue their unbeaten run as they face The Champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
A much-scrutinized Antonio Conte managed to ease the pressure on himself by beating Spurs at Wembley last weekend to recover from the Burnley embarrassment on the opening day. However, they will face a Toffees side that have spent close to £150 million in the Transfer Window and have looked very strong in the opening part of this season. Ronald Koeman’s men will feel robbed of three points from their feisty draw at The Etihad on Monday Night Football, but will no doubt be suffering from slight fatigue after being in Europa League action on Thursday Night in Croatia.
The stats point to favorites Chelsea bagging their second win of the season and making it 23 home League games unbeaten against The Blue Boys of Merseyside.
Glanville’s Prediction: 2-1.
West Brom vs Stoke City (Sunday 1:30 PM)
In what can only be described as one of the lesser exciting Sky Sports Super Sunday clashes of the campaign, Tony Pulis’ Baggies welcome Mark Hughes’ Potters to The Hawthorns.
The hosts were one of the surprise packages of last season, as they challenged for European Football and that trend has continued this season, with maximum points for the side from The Midlands. Stoke City have also been involved in two games that have finished 1-0, but only one has gone their way as they shocked Arsenal at The Bet 365 Stadium on Saturday thanks to a goal from new-signing Jese Rodriguez.
The last 10 meetings between the two sides have only produced 14 goals and this one is surely set to be another low scoring affair.
Glanville’s Prediction: 1-2.
Liverpool vs Arsenal (Sunday 4 PM)
A great Premier League rivalry will be renewed once again in front of the Sky Cameras on Sunday afternoon, as Anfield hosts The Reds against The Gunners.
Both Jurgen Klopp’s side and Arsene Wenger’s men have endured mixed fortunes so far, but the home side does have a one-point edge in terms of the Standings. The visitors enter the tie after another shaky performance in The Midlands against Stoke City but do have new-signing Alexandre Lacazette in fine form. Meanwhile, the Philippe Coutinho Saga has dominated issues off the field in Liverpool, but it hasn’t affected performances on it, with The Reds sailing to a comfortable 1-0 triumph over Crystal Palace at Anfield last Saturday.
This tie is known for serving up more than its fair share of drama and goalmouth action, notable recent encounters include Liverpool’s 5-1 thumping of Arsenal in 2014 and last season’s 3-4 victory for Klopp’s side at The Emirates.
Glanville’s Prediction: 3-2.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Burnley (Sunday 4 PM)
Wembley Stadium will host its second ever Premier League fixture in the final game of the weekend, with Sean Dyche’s Clarets making the trip to face Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs in West London.
The hosts have come agonizingly close to a first Premier League Title in the last two seasons, just like they came painstakingly close to a point against The Blues last week, only for a last gasp Marcos Alonso winner. Burnley were plunged back down to Earth with a home defeat against The Baggies last week after they socked Antonio Conte’s Chelsea 2-3 at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend.
The Lilywhites completed an emphatic double over Sean Dyche’s side last season which included five goals overall and they are tipped to do the very same this time out.
Glanville’s Prediction: 2-0.
So, the scene has been set for another fascinating weekend of Premier League action, but who will be the winners? Who will be the losers? And which players will steal the headlines? In the final bracket of League matches before the first International Break of the campaign.