Never is the Premier League’s stock as high as when there is an international break on the horizon.
Gameweek 7 is the final round of English top-flight fixtures before the October international period and supporters will be keen to experience one more blockbuster weekend before a fortnight of thumb-twiddling and UEFA Nations League hoo-ha.
There are some crackers in store prior to the Premier League‘s imminent hiatus, though. The top three are all in action on Saturday and there could well be goals galore in three intriguing Sunday duels.
Here is how 90min believes this weekend will play out.
Saturday 5 October
Liverpool are handed the opportunity to secure their status as the Premier League’s table-toppers heading into the international break on Saturday lunchtime. Jurgen Klopp’s most-hated kick-off spot is yet to garner quite the same reaction from Arne Slot, but a difficult clash with Crystal Palace may change his tune depending on the result.
Arsenal and Manchester City will then be gifted the chance to either leapfrog Liverpool in the table or simply keep pace with them. After their midweek Champions League excursions, both will be relatively content with favourable home fixtures against Southampton and Fulham respectively. The Saints are certainly unlikely to secure a first league win of the season in north London.
The rest of Saturday’s 15:00 BST kick-offs are likely to be tighter affairs. Brentford have been in encouraging form at the start of 2024/25 despite a challenging fixture list and will be keen to conquer a Wolverhampton Wanderers side sat rock bottom of the table with five defeats from their opening six games.
Gary O’Neil is under significant pressure at Molineux and so is Steve Cooper at Leicester City. The Welshman has overseen an underwhelming start to the season that is without victory in the Premier League and a visit from the lively and press-heavy Bournemouth will be far from straightforward.
Another manager edging towards the front of the sack race is West Ham United boss Julen Lopetegui. A string of subpar results and performances have certainly proven beneficial for David Moyes’ reputation, with things potentially getting worse at home to newly-promoted Ipswich Town. The Tractor Boys have drawn their last four league games and will be hungry for a first victory.
Saturday’s televised late kick-off may not get pulses racing but it promises to be an intriguing affair, with Newcastle United travelling to Everton after the Toffees managed a first win of the season last weekend. Newcastle’s previous two visits to Goodison Park finished in a 4-1 victory and 3-0 defeat, so who knows what we’re going to witness this time around?
Sunday 6 October
After another disjointed performance at Porto to follow up last weekend’s horror show at home to Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United could do with some respite this Sunday. However, Erik ten Hag, who may be on the brink of finally getting the chop, is unlikely to be so lucky.
Aston Villa are Man Utd’s opponents and are fresh from a comparatively rosy 1-0 win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday night. Unai Emery’s side play with exactly the intensity and ingenuity that is likely to bamboozle the Red Devils in what could be Ten Hag’s curtain call.
Chelsea have been in exceptional form after a nervous start to the Enzo Maresca era and have won their last five matches in all competitions. In a fixture they lost 1-0 last season, the Blues will be aiming to continue their hot streak against Nottingham Forest this weekend, who lost their unbeaten status to another west London club in Fulham last time out.
Following up two mouth-watering clashes on Sunday afternoon is Brighton & Hove Albion vs Tottenham. In the battle of ludicrously high lines, there are likely to be goals aplenty, with Spurs the favourites heading to the south coast after five wins on the trot. Fabian Hurzeler’s Seagulls showed their vulnerabilities against Chelsea last weekend and will have to improve defensively.
