The Premier League returns after a three-week international break this weekend, with the fallout from the Manchester City scandal continuing to cast a shadow over the top flight. The most anticipated fixture comes on Sunday at Anfield, where Liverpool host Manchester City in what is City’s first game back since the international window was dominated by the guilty verdict in their long-running case with the Premier League. City have long regarded a trip to Liverpool as the most fearsome away game of their season, and Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and the rest are likely to enter a cauldron of fury and indignation. Liverpool might consider themselves the team who suffered most from City’s financial misdemeanours between 2009 and 2018; under Jürgen Klopp they won the Premier League in 2020 but also finished second to Pep Guardiola’s City by one point in both 2019 and 2022.
Saturday’s action begins at the Emirates, where Arsenal aim to bounce back from a rare defeat. The defending champions’ perfect start to the campaign ended dramatically with a 3-0 loss at Brighton in their last outing. Leeds visit sitting fifth in the table, three points behind Mikel Arteta’s side, and are one of only five unbeaten clubs after five games. They will gauge their progress under Daniel Farke after heavy 5-0 and 4-0 defeats by Arsenal last season.
At 3pm, the clockwatch centres on Chelsea v Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. Marco Rose’s winless Bournemouth head there lying 17th with three draws and two defeats from their first five matches, and they will be without Alex Scott. The star midfielder faces up to two months out with a thigh injury suffered on England duty. Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea are 10th, with the Premier League’s highest goals-against total of 12, and are looking to end a three-match winless run in all competitions against a side they remain unbeaten against in their past nine top-flight meetings.
Later on Saturday, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur meet at Old Trafford, with both badly in need of a win. Spurs sit rock bottom with just two points, and a team assembled for £300m are playing like paupers. The only way may be up for Roberto De Zerbi’s torpid side. United have five points from their opening five games—their joint fewest at this stage of a Premier League season—and are without a win in their past three Premier League games. It is hardly the start expected under Michael Carrick after their barnstorming finish last season. Also on Saturday, Aston Villa v Brentford, Ipswich v Fulham and Sunderland v Brighton are among the other Premier League fixtures.
Sunday’s clockwatch brings Oliver Glasner back to Selhurst Park with Nottingham Forest. Glasner left Crystal Palace at the end of last season after winning the FA Cup, the Community Shield and the Conference League, and there was bemusement among Eagles fans when his next stop turned out to be the City Ground. After Steve Cooper’s exit in December 2023, Forest churned through four managers before Glasner’s arrival. Palace have lost both of their Premier League games at Selhurst Park this season, while Forest have only lost one of their last seven away league games. Hull face Everton in an enticing clash of eighth versus seventh, with Everton unbeaten in their past five games, and Southampton host Portsmouth in the Championship’s Southcoastico.
In Scotland, Celtic travel to Motherwell’s Fir Park. Motherwell lost their three matches before the international break against Dundee, Aberdeen and Rangers, while Celtic lost back-to-back matches against Rangers on either side of a defeat to Ferencvaros in the Europa League. Martin O’Neill’s side are desperately looking over their shoulders with Rangers closing the gap to two points at the top of the table.