The Premier League returns this weekend after the international break with a blockbuster Manchester derby headlining the fixtures, as Manchester City welcome bitter rivals Manchester United to the Etihad Stadium.
City boss Pep Guardiola is under mounting pressure after back-to-back defeats against Tottenham and Brighton left his side with just one win from three matches. The champions of 2023 face growing scrutiny over Guardiola’s costly squad overhaul following last season’s third-place finish.
City’s injury crisis adds to their troubles, with Egypt forward Omar Marmoush ruled out of Sunday’s clash due to a knee injury.
Rayan Cherki and Mateo Kovacic remain sidelined, while John Stones, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rico Lewis, Nico O’Reilly, and Abdukodir Khusanov are all fitness doubts after pulling out of international duty.
United manager Ruben Amorim is also feeling the heat after a shaky start to the campaign. His side narrowly secured their first league win with a last-gasp Bruno Fernandes penalty against Burnley. That victory came on the heels of a defeat to Arsenal, a draw with Fulham, and a humiliating League Cup exit to fourth-tier Grimsby.
Elsewhere, all eyes will be on Anfield as Alexander Isak makes his highly anticipated Liverpool debut against Burnley.
The Reds splashed a British record £125 million ($169 million) on the Swedish striker on deadline day after a prolonged pursuit. Isak, formerly of Newcastle, acknowledged that fans don’t have “the whole picture” of the transfer saga but expressed excitement about working under manager Arne Slot.
Liverpool are chasing a record 21st English league title and are currently top of the table with three straight wins, making Isak’s arrival a worrying sign for their rivals.
In other fixtures, Ange Postecoglou returns to management just three months after leaving Tottenham, taking charge of Nottingham Forest for the first time this weekend.
The Australian coach will face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday in what promises to be a tough start to his tenure following Forest’s sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo earlier this week.
Fixtures of the week:
Saturday
Arsenal v Nottingham Forest
Bournemouth v Brighton
Crystal Palace v Sunderland
Everton v Aston Villa
Fulham v Leeds
Newcastle v Wolves
West Ham v Tottenham
Brentford v Chelsea
Sunday
Burnley v Liverpool
Manchester City v Manchester United
