The Premier League returns this weekend after the international break, with the standout fixture coming at Anfield on Sunday, where Liverpool host Manchester City at 4.30pm under referee Chris Kavanagh. City arrive with a perfect record of five wins from five league games and Erling Haaland leading their scoring with five goals, but they will be without Phil Foden, who is suspended for the final match of a three-game ban. Jérémy Doku and O’Reilly are both listed as doubtful.
Liverpool’s preparations are more complicated. Alexander Isak, the club’s leading scorer with four goals, is out with a thigh problem, and he is joined on the absentee list by Gakpo (ankle), Bradley (knee), Leoni (knee, 18 October), Ekitiké (achilles, December) and Endo (ankle). Federico Chiesa is a doubt because of a back issue. Liverpool’s recent league form reads DDWDW, while City’s is WWWWW.
Old Trafford hosts the Saturday teatime fixture, with Manchester United taking on Tottenham at 5.30pm and Stuart Attwell in charge. United will be without Ugarte (knee), De Ligt (back), Mazraoui (knock), Sesko (shin) and Dorgu (hamstring, 8 November), while Baleba (ankle), Rashford, Mainoo, Darlow and Diallo (ankle) all face late checks. United’s form is LWDLD, with Bruno Fernandes their leading scorer on three goals. Tottenham’s season has been far more difficult: their form reads LLDDL and their leading scorers, Gallagher and Van Hecke, have one goal each. Porro (hamstring) and Van Hecke (foot) are doubtful, and Kulusevski (knee), Mudryk (ankle, 31 October), Odobert (knee) and Simons (knee, 1 January) are all injured.
The weekend opens at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday at 12.30pm, when Arsenal face Leeds with Paul Tierney refereeing. Arsenal’s form is WWWWL and Bukayo Saka leads their scoring with three, but Saliba (back), Mosquera (hamstring) and Tzolis (hamstring, 24 October) are out, and Havertz (knee) and Konsa (dead leg) are doubtful. Leeds are unbeaten in their last four, with a record of WDDWD, and Calvert-Lewin has three goals. Bahoya (ankle) and Wilson (thigh) are doubts for Leeds, while Joseph (knee), James (back, 18 October) and Rodon (hamstring, 31 October) are unavailable.
Among the Saturday 3pm fixtures, Chelsea host Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge with Sam Barrott refereeing. Chelsea’s doubts are significant: Caicedo (calf), Palmer (groin), James (hamstring) and Joao Pedro (knee), with Gittens (foot) injured, while their form stands at WWLDL. Bournemouth report no doubtful players but have a lengthy injury list in Adli (calf, 18 October), Araujo (thigh, 28 November), Kluivert (muscle, 18 October), Kroupi (foot, 31 October), Milosavljevic (knee, 18 October) and Scott (tendon, 21 November), and they arrive on the back of LDDDL, with Tavernier their leading scorer on three.
At Portman Road, Ipswich meet Fulham with Lewis Smith refereeing. Ipswich have no doubts but are without the injured Taylor (knee) and lose Fatawu to a one-match suspension; their form is WLLWL. Fulham, who have no injured players, are monitoring Cairney (knee) and have recorded LLLDD.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Aston Villa host Brentford at Villa Park under Craig Pawson. Villa’s form is LLDLW, they are without Maatsen (ankle, 31 October) and Onana (knee, 1 April), and Cash (leg), Cissé (knock) and Goretzka (knee) are all doubtful. Brentford arrive with WDDDW and six players facing fitness tests: Collins (calf), Damsgaard (ankle), Dasilva (hamstring), Jensen, Milambo (knee) and Van den Berg (knee), while Furo (knee) is out. Sunderland welcome Brighton to the Stadium of Light with Tom Bramall refereeing. Sunderland’s leading scorer Brobbey (hamstring, 18 October) is injured, along with Ballard (hamstring, 21 November), Diarra (hamstring, 18 October) and Mundle (knee, 31 December); their form is LWDLL. Brighton, whose form is WLDWW and whose leading scorer Gross has three goals, list eight doubts — Azeez (hamstring), Dunk (neck), Hinshelwood (knock), Minteh (leg), Mitoma (hamstring), Struijk (hamstring), Wieffer (knee) and Yohanna — and are without Ferguson (ankle) and Tzimas (knee).
Sunday brings two 2pm kick-offs. Crystal Palace host Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park with Peter Bankes refereeing; Palace are without the suspended Disasi, who is serving the second game of a three-match ban, and are assessing several fitness concerns, while their form is LLWLD. Forest, who have no injuries, are doubtful over Savona (knee) and have recorded LDDWL. At the MKM Stadium, Hull take on Everton with Michael Salisbury in charge. Hull’s form is WWDDL and they have doubts over Ansah (back), Hughes (groin), Iroegbunam (groin), Morita (muscle) and Targett (ankle), with Matazo (knee), Butland (shoulder, 5 December) and Gyabi (thigh, 7 November) out. Everton are unbeaten in their last four with a record of WDDDW, and Mykolenko (muscle) and Norgaard (muscle) are doubts.
The round closes on Monday when Coventry host Newcastle at the CBS Arena at 8pm, with John Brooks refereeing. Coventry’s form is LLLLW, they are without Awoniyi for the final game of a three-match suspension, and Amenda, Eccles, Woolfenden and Wright — all sidelined until 21 November — miss out, while Kesler-Hayden (hamstring) and Van Ewijk (hamstring) are doubtful. Newcastle have doubts over Joelinton (groin), Burn (ankle), Dedic (hamstring), Elanga, González (head), Livramento (hip), L Miley (knock), Osula (foot) and Ramsey (thigh), with Jaouen (hamstring, 5 December) the only confirmed absentee; their form is DWDLW.