PREMIER LEAGUE ULTIMATE WEEKEND GUIDE: Our experts tell you the team news, injury updates and players to watch, plus key stats and predictions
Get ready for an action-packed weekend beginning with a potential lunchtime blockbuster at St James’ Park as a full house gets ready to roar on Newcastle against title-chasing Arsenal.
Five games in the traditional 3pm slot follow, including table-topping Manchester City contending with an injury crisis as they travel to Bournemouth and Liverpool hosting Brighton after fighting back to claim a valuable draw at the Emirates last time out. There’s also a huge game for winless Ipswich who could really do with getting their season going at home against fellow promoted side Leicester.
Then on Sunday, Spurs host Villa in the early match before Ruud van Nistelrooy takes charge of his beloved Manchester United for the second time of four matches as interim boss before new man Ruben Amorim comes in during the international break.
And finally, there’s a tasty west London derby on Monday evening with Fulham hosting Brentford – whose boss Thomas Frank had been linked with the role at Old Trafford.
Here is your ultimate guide to the Premier League weekend…
Manchester City and Erling Haaland will travel to the South Coast to take on Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth
Ruud van Nistelrooy will hope to continue his winning start to interim charge of Man United against Chelsea on Sunday
Marco Silva’s Fulham play host to Brentford in Monday’s night’s Premier League offering
SATURDAY
12.30pm: NEWCASTLE v ARSENAL
St James’s Park. Referee: John Brooks
TV/radio: Live on TNT Sports and talkSPORT. Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC One 10.20pm
Our expert’s view: This fixture last year, despite just a 1-0 scoreline in favour of Newcastle, was one of the games of the season for incident, aggro and intrigue. I am sure the hosts will again attempt to wind-up Arsenal and, with the feel-good back after the Carabao Cup win over Chelsea, I’m expecting a raucous St James’ to kick off the weekend fixtures. How will Arsenal handle that? Another red card? I wouldn’t bet against it. CRAIG HOPE
Players to watch: Newcastle – Sandro Tonali. He played centrally against Chelsea and gave his best performance of the season. After a sticky run, another huge game is needed from him here.
Arsenal – Mikel Merino. Back at St James’ where he is fondly remembered for a brief spell under Rafa Benitez, and the midfield will be where this one is won and lost.
Key stat: Newcastle are winless in their last five Premier League games (D2 L3), their longest run without a win since September 2022.
Newcastle injury news: Out – Wilson (fitness), Botman (knee), Lascelles (knee), Trippier (hamstring). Doubt – Murphy (hamstring).
Arsenal injury news: Out – Tomiyasu (knee), Calafiori (knee), Tierney (thigh), Odegarrd (ankle). Doubt – Gabriel (knee), White (knee).
Mail Sport prediction: Arsenal win.
3pm: BOURNEMOUTH v MAN CITY
Vitality Stadium. Referee: Michael Oliver
TV/radio: Live on talkSPORT. Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC One 10.20pm
Our expert’s view: There are no gremlins in the history of this fixture for Manchester City – in 14 Premier League encounters they have won them all with an aggregate of 45-7. On grass, it may prove more challenging with City decimated by injuries and Bournemouth having beaten Arsenal at home a fortnight ago. RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
Players to watch: Bournemouth – Antoine Semenyo. Fast, strong and loves to go on a run. Was the best player on the pitch against Arsenal.
Man City – Matheus Nunes. The reason we don’t play violins for City’s injury situation – the £50m back-up man is getting starts now and is in hot form.
Key stat: Only City (179) and Spurs (156) have had more shots than Bournemouth’s 140 this season.
Bournemouth injury news: Out – Scott (knee), Sinisterra (undisc), Kepa (thigh). Doubt – Ouattara (undisc), Billing (illness).
Man City injury news: Out – Rodri (knee), Bobb (calf), Walker (knee), Grealish (undisc), Savinho (foot), De Bruyne (groin), Doku (undisc). Doubt – Akanji (groin), Gvardiol (head).
Mail Sport prediction: Man City win.
3pm: IPSWICH v LEICESTER
Portman Road. Referee: Tim Robinson.
TV/radio: Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC One 10.20pm
Our expert’s view: Ipswich have waited 22 years for their last top-flight win and they will have few better chances to claim one than at home to a Leicester side that’s faced more shots – nearly 19 a game! – than any other side in the division and just shipped five goals to Manchester United. The murmurings of discontent from Foxes fans about Steve Cooper are growing louder, especially after defeat in front of a home crowd to Nottingham Forest last weekend. Kieran McKenna, a manager with far greater support from his own faithful, may take full advantage. JAMES SHARPE
Players to watch: Ipswich – Leif Davis. No defender has created as many chances this season as the Ipswich full-back, who provided 18 assists in the Championship last campaign. Leicester have conceded the most chances from the flanks of any side in the division.
Leicester – Facundo Buonanotte. The Brighton loanee has been a rare source of attacking flair and excitement for the Foxes and rewarded with a player of the month nomination after two goals in October, including a stunner against Bournemouth that was also shortlisted for goal of the month.
Key stat: Leicester have won just one of their last nine league games against Ipswich (W5 D3) – and both Championship meetings last season ended level.
Ipswich injury news: Out – Tuanzebe (wrist), Luongo (foot), Taylor (undisc), Greaves (thigh), Clarke (ban), Ogbene (achilles). Doubt – Johnson (thigh), Morsy (thigh).
Leicester injury news: Out – Daka (ankle). Doubt – Choudhury (shoulder), Fatawu (groin), Kristiansen (groin).
Mail Sport prediction: Leicester win.
3pm: LIVERPOOL v BRIGHTON
Anfield. Referee: Tony Harrington
TV/radio: Live on BBC 5 Live. Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC One 10.20pm
Our expert’s view: I am looking forward to seeing Brighton in the flesh for the first time this season — they are one of my favourite sides to watch and Fabian Hurzeler is doing a great job despite conceding a last-minute equaliser last week. Liverpool will be a tough test, though. LEWIS STEELE
Players to watch: Liverpool – Ibrahima Konate. The French defender never gets the praise he deserves for his stellar performances. He seems to have — touch wood, Liverpool fans — gotten over his dodgy injury record and has been one of the best defenders in the league this season next to Virgil van Dijk.
Brighton – Danny Welbeck. Turning 34 later this month, the former Manchester United man is in one of the hottest streaks of his career with six league goals already. Are you watching, Thomas Tuchel?
Key stat: Mo Salah has been directly involved in 65 per cent of Liverpool’s Premier League goals so far, scoring six of them and providing five assists.
Liverpool injury news: Out – Jota (chest), Alisson (thigh), Elliott (ankle), Chiesa (undisc). Doubt – None.
Brighton injury news: Out – March (knee), Webster (thigh), Milner (thigh). Doubt – Joao Pedro (foot), Minteh (groin), Dunk (calf), Kadioglu (ankle).
Mail Sport prediction: Liverpool win.
3pm: NOTTINGHAM FOREST v WEST HAM
City Ground. Referee: Peter Bankes.
TV/radio: Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC One 10.20pm
Our expert’s view: West Ham will be looking to build on their victory over Manchester United last weekend but face a tricky trip to in-form Nottingham Forest, who have lost just one game this season. The City Ground can be an intimidating place and David Moyes found that out after a 2-0 defeat last season – where his supporters turned on him at the final whistle. Julen Lopetegui is still proving himself to his new supporters and will want to build consistency with a positive result here. KATHRYN BATTE
Players to watch: Nottm Forest – Chris Wood. In sensational form with four goals in his last three games. He’ll fancy his chances of continuing his goalscoring run against a West Ham defence that has kept just one clean sheet this season. Nuno will hope he passes his late fitness test after picking up a knock.
West Ham – Crysencio Summerville. Came off the bench to score his first Hammers goal in last weekend’s win over Manchester United. Should be full of confidence, but intriguing to see if Lopetegui keeps him as the super sub or unleashes him from the start.
Key stat: Forest have conceded just seven goals this season, their fewest after nine games of a top-flight campaign since 1978-79.
Nottm Forest injury news: Out – Danilo (ankle), Ward-Prowse (on loan from West Ham), Gibbs-White (ankle). Doubt – Anderson (knock).
West Ham injury news: Out – Fullkrug (achilles), Kudus (ban). Doubt – None.
Mail Sport prediction: Forest win.
3pm: SOUTHAMPTON v EVERTON
St Mary’s. Referee: Andy Madley.
TV/radio: Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC One 10.20pm
Our expert’s view: Will beauty tame the beast? Southampton won plaudits in defeat at Manchester City last weekend but fans would sacrifice that for an elusive first league victory. Unlike Saints manager Russell Martin, Everton’s Sean Dyche has never scored highly for artistic impression but he’ll point to a five-game unbeaten run. An intriguing clash of styles. JOE BERNSTEIN
Players to watch: Southampton – Aaron Ramsdale. He will be motivated to compare well to opposite number, England No 1 Jordan Pickford.
Everton – Iliman Ndiaye. Some Everton recruitment has been questionable but the Senegal forward is shining.
Key stat: At the age of 39, Everton’s Ashley Young has three assists in his last five Premier League appearances – as many as he had in his previous 124 matches.
Southampton injury news: Out – Bazunu (calf), Stewart (calf), Smallbone (thigh). Doubt – Fraser (knock), Downes (knock).
Everton injury news: Out – Garner (back), Chermiti (ankle), Iroegbunam (foot), Broja (calf). Doubt – McNeil (knee).
Mail Sport prediction: Everton win.
5.30pm: WOLVES v CRYSTAL PALACE
Molineux. Referee: Anthony Taylor.
TV/radio: Live on BBC 5 Live. Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC One 10.20pm
Our expert’s view: It is ‘now or never’ time for Wolves. A fearsome run of fixtures has left them with two points from nine games and if they are not to be cut adrift, they need to make hay now. Trouble is, Palace have won their last two, against Tottenham and Aston Villa, and have renewed confidence. TOM COLLOMOSSE
Players to watch: Wolves – Rayan Ait-Nouri. Can be devastating on his day – and needs to be in a crucial month for Gary O’Neil.
Crystal Palace – Eberechi Eze. When in full flow, he’s one of the most thrilling attackers in the Premier League.
Key stat: Wolves are the third side to conceded 25 goals after nine games in the Premier League after Southampton (26 in 2012-13) and Fulham (25 in 2018-19).
Wolves injury news: Out – Kalajdzic (knee), Mosquera (knee), Traore (knee), Hwang (ankle). Doubt – Johnstone (groin), Lemina (calf).
Crystal Palace injury news: Out – Doucoure (foot), Franca (groin), Richards (thigh), Holding (undisc), Lerma (thigh). Doubt – Wharton (groin), Eze (hamstring).
Mail Sport prediction: Wolves win.
SUNDAY
2pm: TOTTENHAM v ASTON VILLA
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Referee: Craig Pawson.
TV/radio: Live on Sky Sports and BBC 5 Live. Highlights: Match of the Day 2, BBC One 10.30pm
Our expert’s view: One day, you lose to a winless Crystal Palace and three days later you knock Manchester City out of the Carabao Cup to reach the quarter-finals. How very Tottenham. But take a step back and it’s eight wins out of 10 for Ange Postecoglou’s side. That win over City showed fight and backbone. The loss of Micky van de Ven is a blow, especially when it’s a team as good as Aston Villa coming to town. Spurs lost this game last season, it’ll be a mark of how far they’ve come under Postecoglou to make sure they don’t again. JAMES SHARPE
Players to watch: Tottenham – Dominic Solanke. Six games without a goal is hardly the mark of a striker to catch the eye but his effort off the ball and in possession in the cup against City was so non-stop, he dropped to his knees at the final whistle in exhaustion. He’s crucial to how Spurs play and Ange insists the goals will come, starting on Sunday perhaps?
Aston Villa – Jhon Duran. Football’s most lethal super sub. He has also found the net in his last two starts in the Champions League and Carabao Cup, though, so maybe he’ll get his chance from the beginning this time…
Key stat: In 2024 Villa top the Premier League table for goals scored by substitutes (10). Five of those have been this season, four from Jhon Duran and one from Ross Barkley.
Tottenham injury news: Out – Van de Ven (hamstring), Spence (groin), Odobert (thigh). Doubt – Son (thigh), Romero (undisc), Werner (undisc).
Aston Villa injury news: Outs and Doubts – None.
Mail Sport prediction: Villa win.
4.30pm: MANCHESTER UNITED v CHELSEA
Old Trafford. Referee: Robert Jones
TV/radio: Live on Sky Sports and BBC 5 Live. Highlights: Match of the Day 2, BBC One 10.30pm
Our expert’s view: It will be fascinating to see Ruud van Nistelrooy take charge of a Premier League match for the first time on Sunday in what is a serious test of his credentials. Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea have to respond after their dismal Carabao Cup exit or risk their bid for the top four getting further derailed. NATHAN SALT
Players to watch: Man Utd – Casemiro. All three of his goals this season arrived in the same week and he looks reborn after a tricky start.
Chelsea – Nicolas Jackson. Doesn’t get the credit he deserves and he will know full well he can feast on a defence that looked shaky at times versus Leicester midweek.
Key stat: United are unbeaten in their last 11 home Premier League games against Chelsea (W5 D6) – and are looking to win their third in a row against them at Old Trafford for the first time since 1957.
Man Utd injury news: Out – Mainoo (thigh), Yoro (ankle), Maguire (calf), Shaw (injury), Antony (foot). Doubt – Malacia (knee), Mount (head).
Chelsea injury news: Out – Sancho (on loan from United), Kellyman (hamstring).
Mail Sport prediction: Draw.
MONDAY
8pm: FULHAM v BRENTFORD
Craven Cottage. Referee: Stuart Attwell
TV/radio: Live on Sky Sports and talkSPORT
Our expert’s view: Fulham were denied victory at Everton by a 94th-minute equaliser last week and will be desperate to end their three-game winless run in this west London derby. Brentford – who broke Ipswich’s hearts in the 96th minute – have scored 10 in their last three league games, and will be buoyed by a dramatic midweek shootout win. DOMINIC HOGAN
Players to watch: Fulham – Emile Smith Rowe. Two goals and two assists this season for a player who looks to be playing with joyous freedom again. Evasive, elegant and irresistible on the ball, as Everton found out last week.
Brentford – Bryan Mbeumo. The Bees’ undisputed star – only the bionic Erling Haaland (11) has more than his eight Premier League goals this term. Set for a fascinating battle with the rapid Antonee Robinson, which could decide the outcome.
Key stat: Yoane Wissa has been involved in 10 goals in his last eight Premier League games – seven goals and three assists, providing one or the other every 52 minutes.
Fulham injury news: Out – Lukic (shoulder). Doubt – Vinicius (calf).
Brentford injury news: Out – Dasilva (knee), Thiago (knee), Henry (knee), Hickey (thigh), Nunes (back). Doubt – Ajer (ankle).
Mail Sport prediction: Draw.
