Chelsea v Hull: McBurnie’s Chance to Shine at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea’s new-look front three have started the season as if they own the league. Morgan Rogers, João Pedro and Cole Palmer already have 10 goal contributions between them in three games, a blur of movement and invention that has given Chelsea the division’s most explosive early attack.

Into that walks Oli McBurnie. On his 100th Premier League appearance, no less.

Hull have never beaten Chelsea in the top flight, but they arrive as one of the season’s early high-flyers and with a centre-forward who embodies their edge. McBurnie has yet to score this campaign, though he has gone close. His value has come in the dirty work: relentless pressing, bruising duels, the kind of selfless running that has turned Steve Clarke’s decision to leave him out of Scotland’s World Cup squad into a running joke on Humberside.

He will fancy his chances against a Chelsea defence that still leaks chances. A first goal of the season to mark his century would fit the story perfectly.

Chelsea, for all their attacking fireworks, have not won any of their last four league games against promoted sides. With Hull tearing into the campaign, this one is a long way from a home banker.

Liverpool v Fulham: Arbeloa walks back into the storm

Álvaro Arbeloa could probably do with a quiet reunion with Andoni Iraola. Instead, he walks into Anfield with a Fulham side already under scrutiny.

Three games, three defeats, seven goals conceded. The questions over Arbeloa’s bold, front-foot approach have arrived quickly, just as they did for Iraola when he went nine league games without a win at Bournemouth. The message from his old Liverpool teammate would be simple enough: trust yourself, trust the work.

Fulham have created plenty under Arbeloa. They’ve also been sliced open too easily. Liverpool, starting to hum in attack under their new manager, look well equipped to punish those gaps and turn Arbeloa’s return into a long afternoon.

Iraola has problems of his own. Bradley Barcola cramped up on Wednesday in his first start since France’s World Cup semi-final defeat, while Cody Gakpo is managing a minor injury. If those wide options are reduced, Liverpool’s attacking rhythm will be tested – but the opportunity to exploit Fulham’s looseness remains obvious.

Crystal Palace v Ipswich: Doucouré’s long road back

Cheick Doucouré cannot catch a break.

The Mali midfielder was finally ready to pull on a Crystal Palace shirt for the first time since January 2025 in the Carabao Cup win at Middlesbrough, only to fall ill on the day. It was another cruel twist after two serious knee injuries had stalled a career once interesting Liverpool.

Pierre Sage said Doucouré reacted “as if I had given him one million dollars” when told he would be in the squad for the win at Fulham, a 3-2 victory that got Palace moving. The manager has now confirmed the 26-year-old could feature against Ipswich at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Whenever he does step back on to the pitch, it will be one of the most uplifting moments of Palace’s season.

Bournemouth v Brentford: bruising midfield and late drama

Saturday’s meeting at the Vitality Stadium will be decided in the middle of the pitch, where Vitaly Janelt and Mamadou Sangaré set the tone for Brentford’s hard-edged game.

The numbers tell you what they are about. Brentford lead the Premier League in aerial duels won (22.3 per 90 minutes), interceptions (11.3 per 90) and fouls committed (16.3 per 90). They contest everything. They foul. They recover. They suffocate.

“They defend well as a team, their high pressing is good,” said Bournemouth manager Marco Rose, still chasing his first league win of the season. “Their transition, they have fast players. They have quality everywhere on the pitch, and every situation.”

His answer is Alex Scott. The midfielder tops Bournemouth’s charts for interceptions and has already drawn nine fouls, the fourth-highest tally in the league. If Brentford bring chaos, Scott is Rose’s shield and spark.

Bournemouth’s problem has come at the end of games. They have led in all three of their league fixtures but collected only two points, with four of their five goals conceded arriving from the 84th minute onwards. History offers little comfort: they have never beaten Brentford in eight Premier League attempts.

If there is late drama on the south coast again, the odds say it will favour the Bees.

Aston Villa: Jackson steps into Watkins’ shadow

Aston Villa’s summer overhaul made plenty of noise, but for Unai Emery, many of the arrivals were years in the making. None more so than Nicolas Jackson.

Emery effectively launched Jackson’s career at Villarreal. Now reunited at Villa, the Senegal striker has already opened his account, scoring at Club Brugge on Tuesday after his £47.5m move.

Jackson has the toughest of acts to follow. Ollie Watkins delivered goals in six straight top-flight seasons and became the heartbeat of Villa’s attack. Early signs, though, suggest the transition might be smoother than feared.

“I had a couple of fights with him when he was at Chelsea so when he first came in I thought: ‘What’s he going to be like?’ but he’s a brilliant guy,” said captain John McGinn. “There’s a lot of expectation with the transfer fee but he’s going to be a huge player for us.”

Villa have gambled on Emery’s faith in an old project. Jackson now has the stage to prove them right.

Tottenham v Everton: tension already crackling in north London

The panic that gripped Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the final day of last season, with Everton in town and everything on the line, will not quite be replicated this weekend. But the nerves are back.

Three games, no wins, no goals, one point. For a club that has poured hundreds of millions into De Zerbi’s project, patience has limits. The expectation is simple: this team must ignite, and soon.

Everton’s record here offers Spurs a perfect platform. No top-flight side has fared worse away to Tottenham in this part of north London. Sean Dyche’s men have taken just seven points from the last 51 available at Spurs.

Fail to beat that record, in this context, and the mood will turn. The home crowd will not wait quietly if another blunt, stuttering display unfolds.

Sunderland v Arsenal: old faces, new edge

The Stadium of Light will be full of familiar faces and fresh tension on Saturday evening.

Granit Xhaka, Sunderland’s captain and midfield anchor, needs no introduction to Arsenal supporters. Nor, in some circles, does Dan Ballard. The centre-half, now a mainstay on Wearside, once captained Arsenal’s youth sides after joining their academy at eight years old.

Then there is Bruno Guimarães. The former Newcastle captain returns in new colours, and he can expect a hostile welcome as Sunderland chase a sixth straight win in all competitions, counting the Community Shield.

“Arsenal are flying, they’re one of the best teams in Europe,” said Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris. “It will be challenging but I’m very excited to experience this situation again.”

He has reason for belief. Goals from Ballard and Brian Brobbey earned Sunderland a 2-2 draw against Mikel Arteta’s side on Wearside last November. Le Bris knows the danger of shrinking on nights like this.

“When you face a strong opponent you can become a bit shy but the most important thing is to be ourselves,” he said. “Arsenal are so adaptive they will find solutions, so we must be flexible.”

Arsenal travel north in full flight. Sunderland, though, have already shown they can disrupt their rhythm.

Coventry v Brighton: promoted upstarts smell opportunity

Coventry are still waiting for their first Premier League goal of the season, grouped with Aston Villa and Tottenham in the division’s most unwanted club. That statistic tells only half the story.

At Manchester City last weekend, they came within inches of striking first, survived an early scare for Frank Lampard’s side, and then forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into a series of superb saves before City snatched it late. It was a defeat that somehow felt like a statement.

“They played really well against Manchester City and created a lot of chances,” said Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler, whose team visit the CBS Arena on Sunday.

He did not spare his own players after their limp first half against Leeds, ripping into their lack of energy and intensity. He knows a repeat here could be punished. Coventry may not have scored yet, but they grew in belief with every minute against one of the league’s elite.

Brighton arrive under pressure to respond. Coventry can sense a scalp.

Manchester United v Manchester City: new men on the touchline, old rivalry in the stands

Manchester derby No 199 brings a fresh twist to one of football’s fiercest fixtures: two relatively young managers trying to impose themselves on a rivalry that has defined the city for generations.

Michael Carrick, 45, chases Manchester United’s 82nd win in the fixture. Across the technical area, Enzo Maresca, 46, goes after Manchester City’s 63rd.

Maresca, stepping into Pep Guardiola’s shoes, could hardly have asked for a cleaner start. Four games, four wins since the Community Shield. His City look sharp, organised and convinced.

Carrick has had a bumpier opening as permanent United manager. A defeat at Hull and a draw at Everton bookend a 5-2 home win over Ipswich. The football has flickered rather than roared.

The backdrop will be as charged as ever. United fans plan protests before kick-off over the club’s handling of ticket touting, adding another layer of noise to an already combustible afternoon.

On the pitch, Maresca and Carrick are trying to shape the next chapter of a rivalry that rarely pauses. Which of them will walk away believing this is the season their project truly takes hold?