Box Set: Saturday’s Premier League TV Preview

The Merseyside derby kicks off a top weekend of Premier League action with the Blues knowing a win over their neighbours will give them a substantial gap over the Champions.

Matthew Crist

There are four Premier League games to look forward to this Saturday across almost ten hours of live televised action.

One of the most eagerly-anticipated Merseyside derbies for years kicks things off as Everton put their 100% record on the line against a Liverpool side desperate to restore pride after their drubbing at Aston Villa.

Southampton’s trip to Chelsea is next before Mikkel Arteta takes his Arsenal side to fomer club Manchester City at the Etihad, while Manchester United’s trip to Newcastle provides the grand finalé.

Everton v Liverpool: BT Sport 12.30

Everton Carlo Ancelotti

Everton finished 50 points behind their title-winning rivals last season but can move six points clear of the Reds with a win over their great rivals at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The Toffees top the Premier League with a 100% record, they boast Europe’s highest-scoring striker in Dominic Calvert-Lewin fresh from a goal-scoring England debut against Wales last week, with nine goals in six appearances.

However, Liverpool have now gone 22 games without losing to Everton, which is their joint longest unbeaten run against any opponent, while in 11 games against Everton, Jurgen Klopp has never lost with seven wins and four draws under his belt.

With no side having scored more times than Everton this season and Liverpool shipping 11 in their first three matches, a goal-fest looks to be a certainty – but it’s worth noting that seven of the last eight Goodison derbies have ended in draws with each of the last three finishing 0-0.

EVERTON WIN: 3.80
DRAW: 4.05
LIVERPOOL WIN: 1.86

Chelsea v Southampton: BT Box Office 15:00

Southampton are looking for their third straight victory this season, following wins over Burnley and West Brom and can also record a second straight win at Stamford Bridge after last year’s 2-0 victory here.

And with injuries to Edouard Mendy and Ben Chilwell, Frank Lampard may have to reshuffle his defence just one game into having his full selection available.

But despite their apparent goalkeeping woes, since the start of last season, no Premier League side has conceded fewer goals at home than Chelsea with seven of their last home outings ending in wins.

At Stamford Bridge they boast five clean sheets in that period, scoring 18 goals and conceding just four proving they are one of the hardest sides to beat on their own patch in the Premier League.

CHELSEA WIN: 1.50
DRAW: 4.70
SOUTHAMPTON WIN: 6.20

Man City v Arsenal: Sky Sports 17.30

After just one win from their three Premier League games, Manchester City find themselves in the bottom half of the table having conceded seven and scored six.

Their last home game was a 5-2 thrashing against Leicester, and Saturday’s opponents Arsenal beat City 2-0 in July’s FA Cup semi-final.

But, worryingly for Arsenal, the hero of that semi-final, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, has played more minutes without scoring against City than any other opponent – that’s 450 minutes in total.

And against the Gunners, City dominates the recent head-to-head records in the Premier League and are unbeaten in nine games with seven wins and two draws including six straight wins.

MAN CITY WIN: 1.45
DRAW: 5.10
ARSENAL WIN: 6.30

Newcastle v Man Utd: Sky Sports Box Office 20.00

Newcastle United

The last time Manchester United started the season with two home defeats was back in 1986 when a terrible start to the campaign saw a certain Alex Ferguson arrive at Old Trafford from Aberdeen.

Only West Brom have conceded more goals than Solskjaer’s side, who have let-in 11 this season, only eclipsed by the Red Devils’ 1930/31 side shipping 13 in their first three games before eventually being relegated that year.

However, United’s away form makes pretty impressive reading, with five straight wins on the road in all competitions including last season’s results.

But Newcastle have beaten Saturday’s opponents in two of their last three matches at St James’ Park, including a 1-0 win last season.

NEWCASTLE WIN: 4.95
DRAW: 4.20
MAN UTD WIN: 1.66

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