Our David John brings you his game-by-game preview for the rest of weekend's Premier League action after securing a couple of winners on Saturday.
Sunday
Burnley v Crystal Palace (1330BST, Sky Sports Premier League)
The heat is rising rapidly on the Frank de Boer experiment at Palace with rumours abound he will be sent packing if he does not get some sort of result here.
Bar a 2-1 success in the League Cup over Ipswich, de Boer has overseen three defeats with no goals in the plus column and now has a trappy trip to Turf Moor that will apparently decide his fate one way or the other.
His cause is not helped as Wilfried Zaha is still laid up with a knee problem while last-minute £26m transfer window signing Mamadou Sakho is unlikely to slot in at the back just yet due to a lack of match fitness following an injury.
De Boer may have to shelve his plan to employ three at the back for the time being and return to four which the current players are more familiar with from their time under Sam Allardyce.
The Dutchman switched to that formation and they did improve in the second half of the 2-0 defeat at home to Swansea so a two-week window to get his players organised should be of huge benefit.
The home side represent the other side of the coin with a settled, organised group of players under a manager in Sean Dyche who knows the direction they need to be heading.
They have strengthened well over the summer and got an immediate return from the cash invested in Chris Wood, who drilled home a late equaliser last time against Tottenham.
He has since bagged a hat-trick for New Zealand against the Solomon Islands before being released from international duty early – much to the delight I’m sure of Dyche.
It remains a bit of a cliche to suggest Palace will immediately find that extra gear as they attempt to climb out of the hole they find themselves in.
However, they do look worth a small investment considering both de Boer’s pedigree at Ajax and the extended amount of time the Eagles have had to prepare diligently for this trip to Lancashire.
Prediction: Burnley 1-2 Crystal Palace - Sky Bet scoreline odds: 11/1
Swansea v Newcastle (1600BST, Sky Sports Premier League)
This should be an interesting encounter after both delivered the goods before the international break with convincing victories.
The hosts might have parted company with effective Spanish beanpole Fernando Llorente but the popular Wilfried Bony (34 goals in 70 appearances) has returned while exciting Bayern Munich loanee Renato Sanches is very much available for selection.
How the pair figure exactly in the increasingly impressive Paul Clement’s thinking remains to be seen after he got his tactics spot on last time to see off Crystal Palace in relatively comfortable fashion.
One player who will be very much part of calculations is Leroy Fer and I fancy he will play a significant role in the centre of the park.
It was his centre that was scrambled home by Tammy Abraham for Swansea’s opener at Selhurst Park and the fact he has already netted twice in the Carabao Cup against admittedly weaker opposition could make a quote of around 7/2 in the anytime scorer market quite attractive.
However, with former Swan Jonjo Shelvey set to make his return to the Liberty Stadium in the heart of midfield, I am going to back Fer to pick up a card instead.
It is easy to argue that the Dutchman is not afraid to put a foot in when required (two yellows already this season) and what is sure to be an ultra-competitive area of the game, he may not be able to help himself in his quest to gain the upper hand.
All the doom and gloom on Tyneside evaporated quickly with a robust performance from Newcastle against a shoddy West Ham a fortnight ago although any ill-feeling might still be simmering just below the surface after another abysmal attempt to do any business to round off the transfer window.
Let’s not cramp the display though as Joselu, Matt Ritchie and Mikel Merino all shone as manager Rafa Benitez seemed to really get his message across in terms of the high-tempo pressing he wants to see.
His influence could potentially be missing though this weekend as the former Liverpool boss has been recuperating from surgery and not been present at training although he hopes to be fit enough to patrol the technical area.
There is not much between the pair on what we have seen so winkling out a point each would be acceptable.
Prediction: Swansea 1-1 Newcastle - Sky Bet scoreline odds: 9/2
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Posted at 1230 BST on 08/09/17.
Saturday
Manchester City v Liverpool (1230BST, Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event)
Just as we were building up a head of steam in the Premier League, the international break got in the way so it is take two in the top flight.
A period rife with transfer speculation did not help a great deal either and a resumption of domestic activity leaves punters weighing up exactly how and when teams will deploy their new acquisitions in the immediate future.
Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool might have more regrets than most in terms of the timing of the World Cup qualifiers after twice banging in four goals in the space of four days to qualify for the Champions League and then humiliate Arsenal.
Klopp has added the latter’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to a dynamic battle for midfield places while Philippe Coutinho remains on the books and is expected to be welcomed back into the fold after a couple of eyecatching displays for Brazil.
I wonder whether Coutinho’s continued presence at Anfield might put Sadio Mane’s nose out of joint a little – the Senegalese has been in exceptional form and revelled in the role of main man as Coutinho angled for an exit in some ill-fated discussions with Barcelona.
I reckon it is well worth a punt that Klopp’s side can immediately regain the winning thread at an inflated 3/1 against an obvious title rival which still oozes quality but has not quite found top gear for Pep Guardiola.
They have twice needed serious late help from Raheem Sterling to grab a point at home to Everton and victory at Bournemouth, serving up enough breath-taking attacking play to take your mind off a vulnerability that remains within the backline.
That last statement can be levelled at Liverpool as well and both teams to score looks a very safe call at 1/2 but I am going to take the visitors’ pace and menace on the counterattack to gain the day in lethal fashion.
Prediction Manchester City 1-3 Liverpool - Sky Bet's scoreline odds: 28/1
Arsenal v Bournemouth (1500)
It would be hard to think the Gunners can sink too much lower as a morbid fascination swirls around them when it comes to what they will come up with next.
I think we were lured into believing the opening night, come-from-behind success against Leicester heralded a fresh start in terms of mental resilience at the Emirates Stadium but Arsene Wenger’s side have reverted to type in dramatic fashion.
Feeble against Stoke, it was utter chaos in the 4-0 hiding at Liverpool and how much grip the Frenchman still has on this team will be monitored every step of the way with seven fixtures over the coming month until the next international break.
Arsenal’s shambolic late attempt to sign Thomas Lemar for over £90m smacked of further panic in the ranks and Wenger now has to lift a collection of players at a very a low ebb indeed.
It would take a brave man to plough heavily into current odds of 4/11 to pick up three points against the Cherries as key figures like Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have the outward appearance of players who would rather be anywhere else than north London.
Eddie Howe’s visitors get the opportunity to twist the knife in a little further as they attempt to breathe life into their own campaign after what has been a fruitless start on the south coast.
They were not too far away in the last outing against Manchester City and suffered the heartbreak of a last-gasp defeat but Howe can take solace from by far their best display from three outings in the top flight.
The key will be replicating that sort of intensity after a fortnight off but they should have no excuses when it comes to motivation with the 3-3 draw at the start of the year against this rival still towards the front of their minds having led that game 3-0 at one stage.
My feeling is Arsenal will do just enough to win the game and it probably won’t be very pretty but surely there is still enough fight left in an almost fully-fit Gunners squad to stop the rot for the time being at least.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Bournemouth - Sky Bet's scoreline odds: 15/2
Brighton v West Brom (1500)
Brighton are still looking for a first win and even a first goal following their return to the top flight as Chris Hughton endures an early striker crisis up front.
Tomer Hemed is the only option anywhere near fit enough to start although a slight thigh strain kept him out of Israel’s midweek clash in Italy now leaves Hughton with fingers and toes crossed after missing out on any additions in that area on transfer deadline day.
The news is not all doom and gloom though with game-changer Anthony Knockaert poised for a full 90 minutes while he could be joined in the starting XI by Jose Izquierdo, who has had the benefit of training with his new team-mates all week due to no international involvement.
Midfielder Davy Propper netted twice for Holland against Bulgaria and the evidence starts to stack up that the hosts could move in the right direction when it comes to breaking their scoring duck and a quote in the region of 2/5 highlights the fans more than likely will have something to cheer.
It has been very good start for the Baggies and some solid summer recruitment to go with retaining Jonny Evans after the big boys came knocking has set the bar quite high as they resume hostilities from fifth place in the table.
One blooper between Ben Foster and the otherwise excellent Ahmed Hegazy denied them a chance of a perfect start in a 1-1 draw at home to Stoke last time as Tony Pulis seems to have married their indomitable spirit with some extra quality, including a loan move for experienced PSG midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak.
The latter could be unleashed having enjoyed four training sessions with his new team and Pulis has every right to feel he can pick up something from this game while the hosts still find their feet.
I do think that Brighton can at last make an impact in front of goal and an odds-against quote for both teams to score is worth a second glance.
Prediction: Brighton 1-1 West Brom - Sky Bet's scoreline odds: 9/2
Everton v Tottenham (1500)
There seems to be some real value in the anytime goalscorer market at Goodison Park and it revolves around Christian Eriksen.
The Dane has started the season as well as any player at Tottenham and carried that form over to the international scene with a virtuoso effort against Poland which saw him provide assists for three goals and then score a sublime fourth.
Everton boss Ronald Koeman should make stopping him his number one priority but that is easier said than done with Eriksen brimming with confidence and such a dangerous threat from both open play and set-pieces around the area.
His price to score anytime seems out of line and he rates the best bet on the coupon from Saturday’s line-up.
Tottenham are still taking time to bed in at Wembley so an away trip is not a bad thing while manager Maurico Pochettino has some decisions to make working in a handful of new faces after their now-familiar late flurry of transfer activity.
That means plenty of potential unknowns for opposite number Koeman to cater for, who saw his side go bust at Chelsea on the back of a very demanding week that involved a gritty draw at Manchester City before securing Europa League qualification.
Wayne Rooney’s brush with the law has since seriously angered his manager and is a massive distraction for a team which must re-focus quickly following three games without a victory.
Tottenham have built up a record of nine games unbeaten against this rival stretching back to 2012 and I fancy their chances of extending that into double figures with the devastating Dane leading the charge.
Prediction: Everton 1-2 Tottenham - Sky Bet's scoreline odds: 15/2
Leicester v Chelsea (1500)
This is a fixture with more than a hint of irony for Danny Drinkwater following his last-gasp move from the Foxes to Stamford Bridge – he sent a nice farewell message to the Leicester fans but I can’t see the feeling being reciprocated as he probably takes a place on the bench.
That could be where Eden Hazard starts as well with manager Antonio Conte keener to wait for the Champions League on Tuesday to unleash the mercurial Belgian following off-season surgery on a broken ankle.
He has managed to cram in over 90 minutes in total for his country during the international break with no problems and can’t wait to get involved alongside new arrival Alvaro Morata, who has been in extremely good form as well for Spain.
Hazard is just 2/1 to score with Drinkwater 7/1 to get one over his old employers but Morata is the obvious option and rightly heads the betting in the midst of a productive spell for club and country.
A bit further down the list is Demarai Gray for the hosts and he seems a viable option at 13/2.
The winger was the subject of plenty of transfer speculation and had already voiced his concerns over a lack of playing time so far this season under Craig Shakespeare.
He showed with a virtuoso display the other day for England U21s though that his focus is back following talks over a potential move to Bournemouth and his pace from the flanks and an eye for goal will be a handful for the backline of the champions.
Leicester have really to catch fire so far this season bar a Carabao Cup romp at Sheffield United but I would not be surprised to see them squeeze something out of this one.
Prediction: Leicester 1-1 Chelsea - Sky Bet's scoreline odds: 11/2
Southampton v Watford (1500)
Bar a silly Carabao Cup exit to Wolves, Southampton have made a pleasing start under Mauricio Pellegrino and the early signs are promising that the rapidly revolving door of managers might come to an end at St Mary’s.
One issue the Argentine will need to address is the lack of goals bar the three they put past West Ham, although a fraction more in terms of the rub of the green might have seen them nick at least one on the road last time at Huddersfield.
That is eight games out of 11 though without troubling the scoreboard operator and the sort of run that starts to prey on the mind in front of the target - Pellegrino’s more aggressive approach compared to Claude Puel should soon start to pay dividends.
At the other end of the field, defensive misfit Virgil van Dijk is available for selection and has been allowed to train with the first team again – he has not kicked a ball at this level since being injured in January so we wait to see what approach Pellegrino takes with him.
It has also been a reasonable start for Marco Silva in his new job at Watford after they secured a hard-earned point at home to an unambitious Brighton team having played most of the match with 10 men following a red card for Miguel Britos.
Silva is still organising a collection of relatively new players but there are definite signs of promise from the exciting Richarlison and Andre Gray while a youthful Nathaniel Chalobah has slotted in well in the heart of midfield.
I doubt whether this one is going to see the floodgates open from a scoring perspective but it does involve two evenly matched outfits and a draw seems a fair conclusion to reach.
Prediction: Southampton 1-1 Watford - Sky Bet's scoreline odds: 6/1
Stoke v Manchester United (1730, BT Sport 1)
This is always one of the key fixtures in the calendar for Potters fans and the latest renewal is very nicely poised with both teams having made a good start to the season.
Mark Hughes has managed to weave in some useful quality to the attacking third for this season with Max Choupo-Moting and Jese in particular making lively starts.
However, it is the rearguard that seems very impressive with £18m central defender Kevin Wimmer the latest addition to give the Welshman more options when it comes to keeping the backdoor locked.
They were very comfortable on the whole at West Brom prior to the international break and just one minor lapse saw Jay Rodriguez pop up for the Baggies’ only goal in a 1-1 draw.
This will be much more of an examination as United attempt to extend a perfect start but Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland is under no illusion what the tactics will be – stay solid at the back at try and nick something on the break.
Ten goals scored, none conceded and top of the table after three games is just what Jose Mourinho will have wanted to see as he begins his second season in charge at Old Trafford.
We could all be a little guilty though of getting carried away considering West Ham, Swansea and Leicester have been their opponents so far and should be in a better position to judge United’s credentials after playing at traditionally tough and hostile venue.
That said, Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba have begun in tremendous form while the bruising Nemanja Matic in front of the defence will be well up for a physical encounter if the game ventures down that avenue.
I fully expect a solid effort from the hosts but this is just the sort of game Mourinho has a habit of pinching all three points from and can showcase how his side are prepared to roll up their sleeves when required and get the job done.
Prediction: Stoke 0-1 Manchester United - Sky Bet's scoreline odds: 11/2
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Posted at 0815 BST on 08/09/17.
