The Premier League weekend opens at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at 12.30pm on Saturday and closes at Craven Cottage on Sunday evening. The standout subplot is Arsenal’s attempt to protect a perfect start: their four-match form line reads WWWW and they travel to Brighton on Saturday. Manchester City, also on WWWW, host Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Tottenham go into the lunchtime kick-off against Aston Villa with a form line of LLDD and no leading scorer listed. Tonali is rated doubtful on match fitness, while Mudryk (ankle, October), Odobert (knee, November), Simons (knee, February) and Kulusevski (knee, no return date given) are injured, and there are no suspensions. Villa, whose form reads LLDL, have Alysson as their leading scorer on one goal. Bizot (back) and João Gomes (calf) are doubts, Madjo (ankle), Goretzka (knee) and Maatsen (ankle) are all listed with October returns, Onana (knee) is out until April and Torres (hamstring) is sidelined indefinitely. Sam Barrott referees, having shown six yellow cards and no reds in two games this season.
Brighton, on WLDW, have a doubt over Azeez (hamstring) and a long injured list: Minteh (leg), Mitoma (hamstring), Hinshelwood (knock), Wieffer (knee), Yohanna, Svodoba (knee) and Tzimas (knee), with October returns indicated for all but Tzimas, who is listed for November, plus Ferguson (ankle, unknown). Gross, Hinshelwood and Yalcouyé share the leading-scorer honour on two goals each. Arsenal’s concerns are Mosquera (hamstring) and White (groin), who are both doubts, and Saliba (back, November), who is out. Saka leads their scoring with three. Darren England takes charge, with nine yellows and no reds in three games.
Two Saturday 3pm fixtures follow. Everton host Ipswich at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, where Stuart Attwell is the referee — his two games this season have produced 14 yellow cards, an average of seven per game. Everton’s Armstrong is a doubt over match fitness, with Nørgaard (match fitness) and Röhl both listed for October returns. Everton’s form is WDDD, and Barry, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Maitland-Niles and Tarkowski have a goal each. Ipswich have Emersonn (hamstring) doubtful and Taylor (knee, October) out; their form is WLLW and Davis and Emersonn have two goals apiece.
At St James’ Park, Newcastle’s only doubt is Jaouen (ankle), but Burn (ankle), Gonzalez (concussion), Jacob Ramsey, Elanga, Dedic and Joelinton (all thigh) and Osula (ankle) are injured. Elanga is their leading scorer on two and their form line is DWDL. Hull are without Morita (groin), Mendy (concussion), Ansah (back) and Hughes (groin) until October, Gyabi (thigh) until November, Butland (shoulder) until December and Matazo (knee) until February, with Targett (ankle) a doubt. Hull’s form is WWDD and Belloumi has two goals. Tony Harrington referees, having issued four yellows and one red in two games.
Nottingham Forest, on LDDW, host Coventry in Saturday’s late game at the City Ground, refereed by Jarred Gillett. Jair (hamstring) is Forest’s only doubt, with Savona (knee) and Milenkovic (hamstring) out until October. Delap, Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus and Ndoye have one goal each. Coventry, who have lost all four matches on a form line of LLLL, are without Hayden (hamstring), Woolfenden (knee), Eccles and Wright (thigh) until October and Amenda (calf) indefinitely, and must do without Awoniyi, who is serving the second match of a three-game suspension. Coventry have no leading scorer listed.
Bournemouth and Liverpool meet at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday, with Michael Oliver refereeing. Neither side reports any doubts. Bournemouth’s Adli (calf), Kroupi (foot, November) and Araujo (thigh, November) are out, Milosavljevic (knee) has a 10 October date and Tavernier is their leading scorer on three; their form reads LDDD. Liverpool are without Chiesa (back, October), Leoni (knee, October), Ekitiké (achilles, December), Endo (ankle) and Bradley (knee, both unknown). Isak has three goals and Liverpool’s form line is DDWD.
Leeds, on WDDW, host Crystal Palace at Elland Road with Adam Herczeg as referee; all four of his matches this season have come in the Championship. Gruev (knee) is a doubt for Leeds and Rodon (hamstring) is out until November, while Calvert-Lewin leads their scoring on three. Palace report no doubts but are without Henderson (ankle) and Mateta (thigh) until October and Riad (knee) until June, and Disasi is suspended for the first of three matches. Palace’s form is LLWL and Mitchell is their leading scorer with two.
Manchester City have no injury concerns for Sunderland’s visit, but Foden is suspended for the second of three matches and Doku (calf) is a doubt. Haaland leads City’s scoring with four goals. Sunderland, on LWDL, have no doubts; Diarra (hamstring) is out until November and Mundle (knee) until January, while Reinildo serves a one-match suspension. N Angulo, Isidor and Le Fée have a goal each. Rob Jones referees, with eight yellows and no reds in two games.
Sunday’s late game at Craven Cottage sees Fulham, on LLLD, host Manchester United. Sessegnon (groin) is a doubt for Fulham and Cairney (knee) is out until October; King leads their scoring on two. United are without Diallo (ankle), Baleba (ankle), De Ligt (back) and Heaton (hamstring), with the first three listed for October returns, and Ugarte (knee), while Shaw (hamstring) is a doubt. Fernandes has three goals and United’s form line reads LWDL. Peter Bankes referees, having shown eight yellows and one red in two games.