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Manchester United v Newcastle.
22.08.15, Old Trafford, 12:45 Kick off.
This first game of the weekend sees United host a Newcastle team that haven’t registered a win so far in this season’s campaign. United will be looking to vault to the top of the summit come Saturday lunch time. Thauvin is expected to start for Newcastle following his arrival from Marseille earlier in the week and De Gea will be missing as Van Gaal claims he’s still not in the right mental state to compete. Phil Jones misses through injury and Rojo is a doubt as he lacks match fitness. Newcastle will be looking to record only their second ever Premier league victory at Old Trafford in their 22nd attempt, (D7 L13).
Crystal Palace V Aston Villa.
22.08.15, Selhurst Park, 15:00 kick off.
Villa travel to the capital to take on Palace in this mid table crunch. Both teams are currently sitting on three points each having both won their opening games, having beat Norwich and Bournemouth respectively. Palace will be looking to bounce back from their home defeat at the hands of Arsenal, however Villa will be hoping to do the same after their home deafeat inflicted by Manchester united. Speroni and Chamakh are back in training for Palace but will not feature on the weekend. Villa may hand a first start of the season to Jack Grealish as he featured for the U21 team Monday and got himself on the scoresheet, Gil and new signing Traore may also get called up while Okore and Crespo are expected to miss the away trip. Palace have only lost once in the last six meetings between these two but have lost four out of the last five at home in the Barclays Premier league.
Leicester V Tottenham
22.08.15, The King Powers Stadium, 15:00 kick off.
Leicester entertain Tottenham on Saturday as the hosts are looking to win their first three games in the top flight of English football for the first time. It seems the appointment of Ranieri has been a success so far with the foxes failing to drop a point. Tottenham will be hoping they can register their first league win of the season as scrappy defending cost them two points last weekend when they entertained Stoke. Inler could make his Leicester debut after signing from Napoli this week, Matty James is still sidelined, while Fuchs is expected to recover from his illness. Tottenham new boy N’Jie could be in contention to start while Townsend misses out through an ankle injury. Kane has scored four times against the foxes more than any other team, can he make it five this weekend? The foxes have won 28 premier league points since April 1st 2015 which is more than any other team.
Norwich V Stoke 22.08.15, Carrow Road, 15:00 kick off.
Stoke are looking to get their first win of the season when they travel to Premier league new boys Norwich on Saturday. Stoke will be boosted by their come back at White Hart Lane last week while Norwich will take some confidence from their away win at Sunderland last weekend. Norwich have no new injury worries and the Canaries are expected to start with the same starting line up, as last week’s team. Stoke new boy, Shaqiri, is expected to make his debut Saturday after becoming the Potters record signing. It’s unclear whether Bojan will be included in the squad after his long spell out. Wilson is available for the first time this season after his ankle problem, but Odemwingie and Shawcross are unavailable due to hamstring and back problems. The Canaries have only lost once in the last ten meetings with Stoke in the Premier league, (W5 D4 L1).
Sunderland V Swansea 22.08.15, Stadium of Light, 15:00 kick off.
Swansea travel up North to take on a struggling Sunderland side that are pointless in this season’s campaign. After losing to Leicester and Norwich respectively Sunderland sit bottom of the table and already look in trouble. Swansea have started the season strongly and would feel that they are unlucky not to be sitting on six points after such a wonderful, creative display against last year’s champions in the opening fixture of the season. New signing Kaboul is set to miss the fixture due to a minor knee problem, Gomez also remains sidelined from the knee injury that has delayed his season so far. Ki Sung-yueng is Swansea’s only injury worry as he picked up a hamstring injury on the opening day at Chelsea. Sunderland have kept a clean sheet in three of their four premier league home games against the Swans but with Gomis having netted seven in his last eight Premier league games can they keep them out once more?
West Ham V Bournemouth
22.08.15, Upton Park, 15:00 kick off.
Bournemouth travel to London for the first time this season when they take on West Ham. Bournemouth are currently sitting on zero points for the season, but they will have felt hard done by, by a controversial away loss at the hands of Liverpool on Monday evening. The performance that the Cherries put in pleased Eddie Howe as it showed they can compete with some of the top teams in the country. West Ham will be looking to bounce back from last weeks loss at home inflicted by the high flying Leicester. Adrian’s suspension upheld for the Hammers despite the clubs attempted appeal against the sending off, so we can expect to see a change between the sticks for the home side this weekend. Zarate joins a long list of strikers injured for the Hammers and the young Oxford is a doubt as he missed a few training sessions in the week due to a niggle. MacDonald has become available for the Cherries but Arter and Atsu and still missing due to groin and back problems respectively.
West Brom V Chelsea 23.08.15, The Hawthorns, 13:30 kick off.
Chelsea travel to West Brom in the first game on Sunday desperately looking for their first win of the season. Chelsea have been sluggish since their surprising home draw against Swansea, and after being on the end of a heavy defeat they’ll be desperate to get all three points in this encounter. West Brom are also without a win this season following defeat to Manchester City and a draw at Watford. Berahino is set to face Chelsea despite the rumours that Tottenham have lodged a bid for him. Pedro and Rahman could start for the Blues and Courtois will return from his one match suspension, Moses and Oscar are out with undisclosed injuries. No team has defeated West Brom more than Chelsea in the Premier league, however last season’s fixture saw Chelsea beat 3-0.
Watford V Southampton 23.08.15, Vicarage Road, 16:00 kick off.
Watford will be looking for their first win of the season when Southampton travel to Vicarage Road. The visitors are also without a win having picked up one point from a possible six, and after last week’s home defeat to the hands of Everton they’ll be looking to register their first win of the campaign. No injury worries whatsoever for the home team as Quique Flores has a fully fit squad to choose from. Southampton have no new injury concerns with Bertrand, Clasie and long term absentee Forster sidelined. The next goal scored at Vicarage Road will be the 100th Premier league goal scored at the home of Watford, I’m sure the home fans will want it going Watford’s way.
Everton V Manchester City 23.08.15, Goodison Park, 16:00 kick off.
Manchester City will be hoping to send out another message to the competiton with an away win at Goodison park. The Toffees are currently sitting 5th in the table and a home win here will see their own unbeaten record stay intact. City will be hoping to move to nine points and maintain their 100% record. Pienaar, Gibson, Hibbert and Baines will remain sidelined for the home team as, Zabaleta is the only injury worry for the visiting team. Delph returns following his injury during his debut for City while Otamendi will likely have to wait due to the incredible form of Mangala and Kompany. Manchester City have only won 3 of their previous 18 games at Goodison Park, (L10 D5).
Arsenal V Liverpool
24.08.15, Emirates Stadium, 20:00 kick off.
Arsenal entertain Liverpool in this highly anticipated clash of the titans. Arsenal will be looking to make it back to back victories following their away win at Palace last Sunday, while Liverpool will be looking to make it three wins out of three. Welbeck, Wilshere and Rosicky will be absent for the home team while Sturridge and Flanagan are out for the visitors, with Henderson and Allen facing late fitness tests. Arsenal have lost just one of their last seven Premier league games against Liverpool, (W4 D2 L1). Liverpool will hope to get one over their old rivals as they hope their impressive Monday night form, (four wins from four) will see them over the line.
Sources from Sky Sports
