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Manchester United and Chelsea want a swift response to their title credentials being broken by house defeats final weekend, whereas one or each of Liverpool and Arsenal’s excellent data will come to an finish once they face off at Anfield on Monday night time. Crystal Palace and Everton even have the prospect to assert prime spot once they meet at Selhurst Park on Saturday, whereas the opposite aspect with most factors from the opening two weekends, Leicester, face a frightening journey to Manchester City. Gareth Bale is not going to be match to characteristic for Tottenham once they host Newcastle on Sunday, however Harry Kane and Son Heung-min are sufficient for the Magpies to worry after the England captain arrange the South Korean to attain 4 at Southampton.

Chelsea journey to bottom-of-the-table West Brom, who’re nonetheless searching for their first level again within the top-flight.

AFP Sport seems to be at a number of the important speaking factors forward of this weekend’s motion:

Mayday for Man Utd?

Optimism that United might return to difficult for the title after a 14-game unbeaten run to finish final season was washed away with that unbeaten file as Palace have been good worth for his or her 3-1 win at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s males regarded desperately wanting match sharpness having had barely two weeks of pre-season coaching.

A month-long off season was additionally disruptive off the sector with captain Harry Maguire being handed a suspended jail time period in Greece, which he’s interesting, and teenage striker Mason Greenwood being despatched house by England for breaching coronavirus protocols when on worldwide obligation.

There can be outcry among the many United fanbase at a scarcity of signings within the switch market, whereas their rivals nonetheless spend freely regardless of the financial impacts of the pandemic.

The Red Devils desperately want three factors at Brighton on Saturday to deliver some calm, however the Seagulls have proven sufficient of their opening two video games to recommend United face a far harder take a look at than once they received 3-Zero on the south coast in June.

Brighton have been the higher aspect for lengthy spells regardless of dropping 3-1 to Chelsea on the opening weekend and bounced again with a complete 3-Zero win at Newcastle.

United did handle to get previous Championship aspect Luton within the League Cup on Tuesday regardless of Solskjaer making 10 adjustments, however the Norwegian wanted to deliver on Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Greenwood within the latter phases to kill the tie off with Rashford and Greenwood getting on the scoresheet.

“We need to get competitive games and minutes into the legs of our players because normally we’re in a pre-season after such a short training (period),” stated Solskjaer.

“It’s great for them to get minutes as well but also goals.”

More motivated Everton shine

Everton’s funding within the switch market is reaping speedy rewards as they’ve received their opening two league video games of the season for the primary time in seven years.

Carlo Ancelotti has been in a position to recruit Champions League-winning high quality in James Rodriguez, alongside Brazilian worldwide Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure in midfield.

“The players have come back with more ambition and motivation,” stated Ancelotti after ending 12th final season. “The new signings have helped us be more motivated.”

Palace will present an early take a look at of how far Ancelotti’s males can go this season as they’ve picked off Southampton and United comfy on the counter-attack with Wilfried Zaha rediscovering his greatest type to attain 3 times in two video games.

Third time fortunate for Liverpool?

Arsenal have gotten the higher of Liverpool twice in latest months, however the acid take a look at for Mikel Arteta’s aspect comes at what he described because the “toughest place to go in the world”, Anfield, on Monday.

The Gunners rode their luck to beat the Reds after Jurgen Klopp’s males had sealed the title final season, however the Community Shield conflict between the 2 a month in the past was a much more balanced recreation, which Arsenal received on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Arsenal have constructed on their momentum from successful the FA Cup by beating Fulham and West Ham to strengthen the conviction that Arteta can lead them again into the highest 4 this season.

But Liverpool confirmed in sweeping apart Chelsea 2-Zero at Stamford Bridge final weekend that they continue to be the crew to beat and have solely strengthened with the signing of Thiago Alcantara.

Saturday (all occasions GMT)

Brighton v Manchester United (1130), Crystal Palace v Everton (1400), West Brom v Chelsea (1630), Burnley v Southampton (1900)

Sunday

Sheffield United v Leeds (1100), Tottenham v Newcastle (1300), Manchester City v Leicester (1530), West Ham v Wolves (1800)

Promoted

Monday

Fulham v Aston Villa (1745), Liverpool v Arsenal (1900)

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