Premier League: Sunday’s Matchday Preview

Jose Mourinho returns to Old Trafford as Manchester United host Spurs - just one of six Premier League games taking place on Sunday.

Matthew Crist

It’s a feast of football for all armchair fans on Sunday as six games keep us entertained throughout the day with Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool all in action.

Leicester and West Ham share the early billing with Southampton and West Brom as all four sides look for valuable points at either end of the table.

The Sunday matinee sees Arsenal looking to bounce back after defeat at Anfield last Monday night when they entertain Sheffield United at the Emirates while Wolves and Fulham both suffered disappointing losses last week and will be looking to turn things around.

All eyes will be on Old Trafford at 16:30 for the return of Jose Mourinho to his former club with the hosts keen to impress after a far from convincing performance at Brighton last week with Spurs also looking anything but the finished article themselves so far this season.

The final act comes at Villa Park where Champions Liverpool can maintain their 100% record with a victory over an Aston Villa side who have already shown they are an improved outfit this season with wins over Fulham and Sheffield united.

Leicester v West Ham, 12:00

Leicester City will be looking to build on their emphatic 5-2 win over Manchester City when they face West Ham at the King Power Stadium with the Foxes eyeing their fourth consecutive win in the 2020/21 Premier League campaign.

Brendan Rodgers’ men have averaged four goals per game in the top flight so far and head into Sunday’s clash as favourites.

But West Ham are themselves coming into this tie having just thumped Wolves 4-0 to kick-start their Premier League campaign after two defeats on the spin.

LEICESTER WIN: 1.66
DRAW: 4.15
WEST HAM WIN: 4.90

Southampton v West Brom, 12:00

Following successive defeats to Crystal Palace and Tottenham, Southampton finally grabbed their first win of the new season last weekend with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph at Burnley last week.

Meanwhile, last year’s Championship runners-up West Brom put their first Premier League point on the board last weekend when they held Chelsea to a draw in a 3-3 thriller at the Hawthorns.

But the Saints have won their last four matches against West Brom in all competitions while the Baggies have conceded at least three goals in their last three matches in the Premier League.

SOUTHAMPTON WIN: 1.76
DRAW: 3.90
WEST BROM WIN: 4.65

Arsenal v Sheffield United, 14:00

Arsenal will be aiming to get back to winning ways in the Premier League when they welcome Sheffield United to the Emirates on Sunday having been victorious in their opening two, only to go down to Liverpool at Anfield last Monday night.

For the visitors, this is just about getting their first points on the board after a dire start to the campaign with Chris Wilder’s side having lost all three matches so far this Premier League season.

However, The Blades were unbeaten against Arsenal last season with a 1-1 draw at the Emirates and a 1-0 win at Bramall Lane back in October.

ARSENAL WIN: 1.55
DRAW: 4.10
SHEFFIELD UTD WIN: 6.45

Wolves v Fulham, 14:00

Wolves will be determined to erase the memory of their 4-0 drubbing at West Ham when entertaining Fulham who are already many people’s favourites to head straight back to the Championship.

The home side began the current campaign with a fine 2-0 win at Sheffield United and put in a spirited second-half performance when losing 3-1 to Manchester City before something of a surprsie thrashing at the hands of David Moyes’ men last weekend.

Scott Parker’s Fulham are again finding life at the top level pretty difficult, with a 3-0 home loss to Aston Villa making it 10 goals conceded in a trio of league defeats.

WOLVES WIN: 1.48
DRAW: 4.20
FULAM WIN: 7.25

Man United v Spurs, 16:30

Jose Mourinho

After losing 3-1 to Crystal Palace here in their belated opener, United had to ride their luck when prevailing 3-2 at Brighton as Albion hit the woodwork on five occasions.

However, Marcus Rashford capped off a bright display with a superb breakaway goal and Bruno Fernandes showed great nerve to fire in a 100th-minute penalty to snatch all three points.

After a disappointing home loss to Everton, Spurs thrashed Southampton 5-2 before a frustrating 1-1 draw with Newcastle in London and must now overcome a hectic fixture list which has seen them travel to Bulgaria and North Macedonia in the Europa League, as well taking on Chelsea and Maccabi Haifa this week.

MAN UTD WIN: 1.95
DRAW: 3.65
SPURS WIN: 3.90

Aston Villa v Liverpool, 19:15

Liverpool have already established themselves as the team to beat again this term after following up a 2-0 win at Chelsea by beating Arsenal 3-1 on Merseyside, though Villa did give the champions a scare here last season before eventually conceding two late goals as Liverpool took the title

Sadio Mane, Andrew Robertson and new recruit Diogo Jota were on target as the Reds came from behind against the Gunners in their last Premier League outing to make it three wins from three and currently sit top of the table.

Dean Smith’s side only just managed to survive in the top flight last season but seem better equipped to avoid a relegation battle this time around having recorded a 1-0 triumph over Sheffield United and then an emphatic 3-0 victory at Fulham.

ASTON VILLA WIN: 9.50
DRAW: 5.55
LIVERPOOL WIN: 1.31

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