Premier League preview, August 25-27, 2018

AUG. 23 – The third round of matches in the 2018/19 Premier League season will see Arsenal and Manchester United looking to bounce back from defeat, while Manchester City and Chelsea will be favoured to continue their winning form.

The weekend’s action gets underway with the early kick-off on Saturday afternoon at Molineux Stadium, as Wolverhampton Wanderers welcome champions Manchester City. Wolves are still searching for their first league win after suffering a 2-0 loss at Leicester City last weekend, while the Citizens imperiously dismissed Huddersfield Town 6-1 in their last outing and will start the match as clear favourites.

The pick of the afternoon matches is a London derby at the Emirates Stadium between Arsenal and West Ham United. Both sides have endured back-to-back losses at the start of the season, upping the desperation level for this clash of the Gunners and Hammers. Arsenal will hope Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can find his scoring form as they seek a first official win under new manager Unai Emery.

Saturday also features Wilfred Ndidi’s Leicester City away to Southampton, Huddersfield at home to Cardiff City and Idrissa Gueye’s Everton away to Bournemouth, before wrapping up with the clash between Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion in the late kick-off.

Brighton will be looking to build on the excellent display they offered up in defeating Manchester United 3-2 last weekend, but Chris Hughton’s side could find the going really tough at Anfield, where a Liverpool side inspired by African talent such as Sadio Mane, Naby Keita and Mohammed Salah are expected to sweep to victory.

Sunday’s action begins with Wilfried Zaha’s Crystal Palace looking to put an end to Watford’s great start to the season and Jean Michael Seri’s Fulham hoping to rack up a first win when they host Burnley, before the final game of the weekend sees in-form Chelsea take on Newcastle United at St James Park.

The Blues put up a fine attacking showing to beat Arsenal last time out and will head to the North-East of England with the bit between their teeth, as they take aim at Mohamed Diame’s Magpies, who have yet to taste victory this season.

The third round wraps up on Monday night as Eric Bailly’s Manchester United look to shrug off their insipid display in the loss to Brighton last weekend by beating a Tottenham Hotspur side which is chasing a third successive win at the start of the league campaign.

Key match stats

Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur – Head-to-head, Premier League
Matches played 52
United wins 33
Spurs wins 8
Draws 11

Newcastle United v Chelsea – Head-to-head, Premier League
Matches played 46
Newcastle wins 12
Chelsea wins 22
Draws 12

Arsenal v West Ham United – Head-to-head, Premier League
Matches played 44
Arsenal wins 28
West Ham wins 7
Draws 9

Premier League fixtures, August 25-27
All times CAT

Saturday 25 August
13:30: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City – LIVE on SS3 & Max1
16:00: Arsenal v West Ham United – LIVE on SS3, SS10, Max1 & SelGo2
18:30: Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion – LIVE on SS3 & Max1

Sunday, August 26
14:30: Watford v Crystal Palace – LIVE on SS3, SS10, Max1 & SelGo2
17:00: Newcastle United v Chelsea – LIVE on SS3 & Max1

Monday, August 27
21:00: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur – LIVE on SS3 & Max1