Lost amid the domestic and continental cup action has been the start of the Premier League season.
The schedule at the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign has been unrelenting and overwhelming. It’s just over a month into the new season ahead of the Premier League’s sixth gameweek and the amount of football being played means fans have little rest from match to match.
So what has this weekend got in store? There’s another hefty Saturday slate rounded off with Monday night action on the south coast. There’s a tasty Sunday bout at Old Trafford, too.
Here’s how 90min projects the upcoming fixtures to unfold.
Saturday 28 September
You won’t want to miss the Saturday lunchtime kick-off this weekend, folks. We’re not quite there in the calendar yet, but fireworks are usually inevitable when Newcastle United and Manchester City collide at St James’ Park.
The two sides played out a belting 3-3 draw two seasons ago before Kevin De Bruyne stole the show on his comeback appearance earlier this year, inspiring a 3-2 come-from-behind victory. While City are without Rodri, Alexander Isak may miss out for the hosts.
Matchday 2 of the Champions League means Arsenal and Liverpool are both in Saturday action. The Gunners take on Leicester City at the Emirates, while Arne Slot’s Reds are expected to cruise at bottom-of-the-table Wolves in the day’s televised evening kick-off.
There are well-balanced affairs across the 3pm blackout excluding Arsenal’s likely convincing victory over the Foxes.
Julen Lopetegui and West Ham United desperately need three points on their travels as they take on Brentford, but the Hammers have never beaten the Bees at the Gtech Community Stadium in the Premier League. They did so in the FA Cup a few years back, however.
In-form Chelsea are hunting their fourth-straight win in all competitions when they face a Brighton & Hove Albion side aiming to extend their unbeaten start to a top-flight season to six games for the first time in the club’s history. Something’s got to give in west London.
Nottingham Forest are the other surprise unbeaten starters and they’ll be tasked with preserving their excellent start to the season against Fulham without suspended talisman Morgan Gibbs-White. Fulham have also enjoyed a fine opening to 2024/25 and haven’t lost in the league since opening night.
Two of the six teams yet to record a win also face off on Merseyside as Crystal Palace travel to Goodison Park. Everton secured their first point of the season at Leicester last weekend and will be aiming for the lofty heights of three points against a Palace team that’s underwhelmed thus far but will improve.
Sunday 29 September
There was once a time when Ipswich Town and Aston Villa were the two strongest teams in the land. The pair are back in the top flight together and their first Premier League duel since 2002 arrives at Portman Road.
Ipswich certainly haven’t seemed overwhelmed on their return to the Premier League, but this is a big test against a Villa side intent on proving that last season was no fluke.
Tottenham Hotspur have won three straight games in three different competitions, but rarely do they leave Old Trafford with smiles on their faces. They played well at the Theatre of Dreams last season, but could only muster a 2-2 draw. Manchester United, meanwhile, have drawn back-to-back games and the ill feeling towards Erik ten Hag has started to re-emerge.
Will it ever go away?
Monday 30 September
The second Premier League clash on a Monday night this season arrives on the south coast as Bournemouth welcome Southampton to the Vitality Stadium.
Andoni Iraola’s Cherries have once again endured a slow start to the season, but this is a great chance to ignite their campaign against the winless Saints. Russell Martin’s side have impressed in their previous three outings across all competitions, though, with the manager’s systematic changes making the newly-promoted side more competitive.
