As the third game week of the season approaches, the Premier League continues to farm out enthralling storylines.
Narratives were back in full flow last week. Conte vs Tuchel. Nunez vs Andersen. And, of course, Manchester United versus themselves.
As expected the transfer window still dominates much of the football news, but now it is time to focus on the action…
Everything you need to know about this weekend’s fixture schedule and television broadcasts is below.
Week 3 fixtures
(All televised fixtures are in bold)
Saturday 20 August
- Tottenham Hotspur vs Wolverhampton Wanderers, 12.30pm, BT Sport 1/BT Sport Ultimate
- Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa, 3pm, not televised in the UK
- Everton vs Nottingham Forest, 3pm, not televised in the UK
- Fulham vs Brentford, 3pm, not televised in the UK
- Leicester City vs Southampton, 3pm, not televised in the UK
- Bournemouth vs Arsenal, 5.30pm, Sky Sports Premier League/Sky Sports Main Event
Sunday 21 August
- Leeds United vs Chelsea, 2pm, Sky Sports Premier League/Sky Sports Main Event
- West Ham United vs Brighton and Hove Albion, 2pm, not televised in the UK
- Newcastle United vs Manchester City, 4.30pm, Sky Sports Premier League/Sky Sports Main Event
Monday 22 August
- Manchester United vs Liverpool, 8pm, Sky Sports Premier League/Sky Sports Main Event
SATURDAY
Tottenham Hotspur vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Tottenham Hotspur’s season will largely be defined by how they fair against sides such as Wolves.
It is well known that Antonio Conte has brought his familiar stubbornness to Spurs against the top sides, but his players will have to show far greater quality than last season against teams who force them to dominate possession.
In Bruno Lage’s first season in charge Wolves conceded the least goals of all sides outside the top four, and were similarly defensively sound against Fulham last time out, despite the switch to a back four.
The issue though is goals. Wolves famously struggled to put the ball in the net last season and were lucky to escape with a point after an Aleksandar Mitrovic penalty was saved by Jose Sa.
Lage will need to see improvement from his attackers should Wolves recreate their 2-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from last season in this Saturday’s lunchtime clash.
Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa
Palace will hope for a first win of the new season when Aston Villa visit Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon.
This match comes after a tough opening pair of encounters for Patrick Vieira’s men, who have already faced Arsenal and Liverpool, although they battled to a stellar point at Anfield.
Palace know the importance of a victory with a trip to Manchester City up next and will be confident of three points, despite Steven Gerrard’s outfit picking up a win over Everton last time out.
Danny Ings and Emi Buendia both struck to secure just Villa’s third win in their last 13 matches in the Premier League.
And, Villa will hope for a second win on the bounce, having recorded their only win in London last season at Crystal Palace.
Everton vs Nottingham Forest
With Morgan Gibbs-White their 16th addition to a busy summer window signing ahead of a trip to Goodison Park, it’s hard to keep track of the arrivals in Nottingham.
This window, only Chelsea have spent more than the newly-promoted side, who have gambled a lot of money on their Premier League survival.
Steve Cooper’s men took a small step to achieve that feat with a defiant win over visiting West Ham, with new signing Taiwo Awoniyi netting the winner, while fellow summer arrival Dean Henderson saved a Declan Rice penalty.
A trip to Everton gives Forest a chance to grab their first away win of the season, although Frank Lampard’s men will be looking to avoid opening a season with three defeats for the first time since 1990-91.
The Toffees will also have to contend with Emmanuel Dennis, who was signed from relegated Watford and could make his Forest debut on Saturday.
Fulham vs Brentford
Fulham face a first London derby since returning to the Premier League, and Brentford is likely to prove to be a stern test.
Thomas Frank dismantled the Erik ten Hag revolution last weekend, with a blueprint of competing in this division one their opponents might hope to have emulated come May.
Against Manchester United, the Bees’ pressing was key to their biggest top-flight win since 1938 and expect Mathias Jensen and company to rush the newly-promoted side in a similar fashion.
Fulham meanwhile could give a debut to new signing Issa Diop as these two sides meet for the first time in the top division.
Leicester City vs Southampton
If Leicester City are to avoid defeats in their first three Premier League games for the first time since 2014-15, they must not fall to Southampton on Saturday.
Brendan Rodger’s outfit have conceded the most goals from corners since the start of last season and will fear a similar outcome when Saints skipper James Ward-Prowse, who has four goals in matches against the Foxes, steps up from dead-ball situations.
The Saints though have not picked up an away win since they beat Tottenham Hotspur in February, and, like Leicester, are anxiously looking over their shoulders such has been the start of the newly-promoted sides.
Leicester City have lost one of their last ten matches at the King Power Stadium.
Bournemouth vs Arsenal
It is testament to Manchester City’s strength that fringe players Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko have transformed an Arsenal side that now appears capable of reaching the top four.
A delicious chip from Jesus, who added a second midway through the first half, was the pick of a six-goal thriller at the Emirates Stadium last weekend, with Mikel Arteta’s side looking to have found some much-needed consistency.
Their opponents Bournemouth now face another stern test after being beaten at the Etihad Stadium 4-0 last time out.
City’s control was undisputed on that day, although Scott Parker’s side may play with slightly more freedom in front of their own fans.
Arsenal could win their first three games of the season for the first time since 2004-05.
SUNDAY
Leeds United vs Chelsea
Chelsea travel to Elland Road, hoping to bounce back after a late Harry Kane equaliser stole a share of the spoils at Stamford Bridge.
The brightest spark in West London was defender Reece James, who was given licence to attack after the Blues switched to a back-four.
He will face a Leeds side that squandered a two-goal cushion against Southampton last time out.
Such defensive fragilities show the work ahead for Jesse Marsch following the exit of Kalvin Philips to Manchester City this summer.
They haven’t recorded a win in their last nine meetings with the Blues.
West Ham United vs Brighton
The Hammers record against Brighton is less than impressive.
Since Brighton’s return to the top flight, West Ham are yet to beat the Seagulls, who have gathered a formidable reputation under Graham Potter and are unbeaten in 10 against the east Londoners.
A win over Manchester United on opening day was followed up by a draw with Newcastle, as Brighton look to push on from last season’s ninth-place finish – their best ever result.
Brighton’s opponents have won just two of their last 11 Premier League matches, falling to seven defeats in that time, as their domestic form has drastically tailed off despite a run in the Europa League last season that rather papered over the cracks.
The Hammers have not netted in the first two games of the season – the first time since 1993-94 – and will hope for a quick return to goals on Sunday.
Newcastle United vs Manchester City
When el-cash-ico takes place at St James’ Park, it will be Nick Pope who will largely dictate the outcome of the match, you would think.
With him between the sticks, Newcastle are yet to concede this campaign – a feat only equaled by the visitors City.
Pep Guardiola’s men have not lost an away league fixture since the first game of last season. Another victory on their travels – even three games into the season – would underline the idea that a fifth title in six seasons theirs to lose.
New signing Sergio Gomez could make his first appearance under Guardiola.
MONDAY
Manchester United vs Liverpool
Yeah, these two haven’t had the best start to the new campaign.
With a shaky start under Erik ten Hag, Manchester United have teased the arrival of defensive midfielder Casemiro – the Red Devils hoping new additions might be the answer to their growing problems.
The whole box office special might be under new ownership if the rumours of a Glazer selling are to be believed, but it is on the pitch that United will hope to settle the ship under their new boss.
Hosting Liverpool might not be an ideal fixture for a team that desperately needs three points, as United were beaten 9-0 on aggregate in the two Premier League matches last season, but the visitors have hardly hit the ground running themselves.
At Anfield, Darwin Nunez, who was not sent off in 85 games at Benfica, received his marching orders just 57 minutes into his home debut. Joachim Andersen played the dark arts masterfully, and the new signing fell hook, line and sinker.
That means Jurgen Klopp will be without his new striker for the next three matches but will take positives from the performance of Luis Diaz, who gloriously struck an equaliser against a stubborn Crystal Palace to rescue a point.
With City up and running though, Liverpool are already playing catch-up after recording two points from their first six available against two sides Klopp would have expected his side to comfortably beat.
Already then, you get the feeling a win is needed for both sides. Yes, already.
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