The international break is over, and this weekend’s club football matches will feature exciting matchups from top English teams like Arsenal, Liverpool, and Tottenham as they compete to maintain their position atop the EPL standings.
During the two-week break from Premier League play, 16 Arsenal players were away on international duty. Given the Gunners’ remarkable performance over the past season and a half, this is scarcely surprising.
With ten points out of a possible 12 in their first four games, the Gunners have started well this season as well. Last year, they gave eventual champions Manchester City a tough time in the Premier League.
On Sunday, Arsenal travels to Everton fresh off a significant Premier League victory against Manchester United.
On paper, the Gunners should have come away from Liverpool with three points, but Goodison Park hasn’t exactly been a joyful hunting ground lately.
The north London giants have been there five times without a win after Mikel Arteta’s team was defeated there last year.
Nevertheless, the manner in which they defeated United to earn all three points has improved the atmosphere after a stalemate against Fulham and the Toffees’ dismal start.
On Sunday, September 17, 2023, Everton and Arsenal are set to play. Kickoff time is 4.30pm.
Liverpool will visit Wolves on Saturday in an effort to maintain its position in the top four of the English Premier League.
After cruising to a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa to enter the break third in the early-season league table, two points behind defending champions and early pacesetters Manchester City, Liverpool holds one of the six remaining unblemished records in the Premier League.
That positive start has seen them tipped for a title challenge in some quarters, and it’s fair to say Jürgen Klopp’s men look more like their old selves after a dismal 2022-23 campaign. Only Everton (152) have attempted more presses – defined as a coordinated action by two or more players applying pressure at the same time – than Liverpool’s 151 in the Premier League this season. After four games last term, their 69 pressures represented the league’s fourth-lowest figure.
Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai were on target in Liverpool’s win over Villa, with the former making it 10 consecutive Premier League games with a direct goal involvement. The last player to record a longer streak of matches with a goal or an assist in the competition was Salah himself, doing so in 15 successive games between August and December 2021.
In more positive news, Klopp said on Friday that centre-back Ibrahima Konaté is back from injury as they bid to end a dire run in early kick-offs.
Liverpool failed to win any of their six Premier League games starting at 12.30pm on a Saturday last season, drawing three and losing three. The Reds scored just three throughout those fixtures, five of which took place away from Anfield.
Wolves, meanwhile, have had a mixed start to their first season under Gary O’Neil. While they were unfortunate to lose at Manchester United on Matchday 1 before claiming a vital win at Everton, their return of three points from four matches has done little to ease fears of a potential relegation fight.
View other weekend fixtures below
SATURDAY
Wolves Vs Liverpool
Aston Villa Vs Crystal Palace
Fulham Vs Luton Town
Man U Vs Brighton
Tottenham Vs Sheffield United
West Ham Vs Manchester City
Newcastle United Vs Brentford
SUNDAY
Bournemouth Vs Chelsea
Everton Vs Arsenal
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