The Premier League returns on Saturday after an international break that was dominated by the Manchester City verdict, with the weekend’s fixtures spread across three days. It has been a busy few weeks away from club football, not least for England, who won 2-0 in Prague during the break.
Saturday’s programme begins at 12:30 BST with Arsenal against Leeds, before a 15:00 cluster of Aston Villa v Brentford, Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth, Ipswich v Fulham and Sunderland v Brighton. Manchester United against Spurs completes the day at 17:30, with both clubs hoping to kickstart their seasons.
Sunday brings two 14:00 kick-offs, Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest and Hull v Everton, before the weekend’s standout fixture: Liverpool against Manchester City at Anfield at 16:30. The champions’ visit is expected to be one of the most dramatic moments of the season, and it arrives with Arsenal hoping to make up ground on City at the top of the table. Arsenal’s cause has been reinforced by Mikel Arteta signing an £80m-plus new deal, after which he vowed: “This is only the beginning.”
The round closes on Monday evening, when Coventry host Newcastle at 20:00.
The fall-out from the Manchester City verdict has continued to shape the conversation around the top flight. Manchester City supporters have pushed back against the criticism, insisting “those memories are ours and no verdict changes that”, while the wider debate has extended to whether the club’s name should remain on the trophies it has won.
Attention also continues to turn to the next generation, with the latest crop of the best young talents at Premier League clubs having been identified during the break.