The 2022-23 Premier League season continues with exciting games billed from this weekend till Monday.
Matchday three of the English top-flight looks like one to excite with teams who are yet to record positive results, looking for a response, and a historical rivarly entering another chapter.
Manchester United vs Liverpool – Old Trafford (Monday, August 22, 2022 – 8pm)
Two of the biggest traditional teams in Premier League history will once again reignite the epic rivalry when they bring matchday three to a close on Monday night.
Last season, Manchester United were no match for Liverpool as Jürgen Klopp’s men defeated the Red Devils 5-0 and 4-0 at Old Trafford and Anfield respectively.
However, with Erik ten Hag in charge for his first Premier League test against a ‘big six’ team – optimism is not as sky-high as it was after the two teams clashed in pre-season.
Ten Hag’s first pre-season game as Man United gaffer was against Liverpool, a match which he guided United to a 4-0 triumph in Thailand, weeks ago.
However, with successive defeats against Brighton and Hove Albion (1-2) and Brentford (4-0) to start the season, United sit bottom of the Premier League standings with any of their players yet to score this season.
Although, the big money signing of Casemiro from Real Madrid eases concerns, it is clear that United’s problems are far from solved.
Although, Liverpool are yet to win a game this season, recording two draws, Klopp will need his charges to take their opportunities as they have created seven big chances already this season, missing five and hitting the woodwork three times.
The Reds, who have averaged 17.5 shots per game this season, will fancy their chances to kickstart their season against a shaky Man United side – whom they have beaten in their last three Premier League games and they have not lost to in their last eight Premier League games.
Manchester United fans will hope Monday’s fixture will not be a repetition of the last time their arch-rivals visited them as they suffered a 0-5 defeat at Old Trafford last October – going down 0-4 in the first half.
Last time out: Pre-season friendly 12/07/2022 – Manchester United 4-0 Liverpool
19/04/2022 – Liverpool 4-0 Manchester United
Newcastle United vs Manchester City – St. James’ Park (Sunday, August 21, 2022 – 4:30pm)
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have gotten their title defence underway in superb fashion.
They are yet to concede this season and they have already scored six times.
City’s dominance in the opening games has seen them top the charts for accurate passes per game (712), accurate crosses per game (6.5) and the averaged ball possession (71.0%).
The Cityzens will rely on their passing ability to frustrate the optimistic home faithful of Newcastle United.
The Magpies are yet to lose this season but they have it very difficult against City recently.
Newcastle are without a clean sheet against City in their last 14 games and they have failed to win their last seven games against City, while losing their last six.
It is also important to note that the Newcastle boss Eddie Howe had lost all of his last 10 games against Guardiola as a manager.
Last time out: Premier League
08/05/2022 – Manchester City 5-0 Newcastle United
AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal – Vitality Stadium (Saturday, August 20, 2022 – 5:30pm)
Arsenal will look to continue their brilliant start to the season and they will aim to win their first three games of the season – for the first time in 18 years (2004/05) – when they travel to the Vitality Stadium to face AFC Bournemouth.
Confidence and spirits are high for both the Arsenal fans and players. Mikel Arteta’s charges have not lost a single game all the way from pre-season till the start of this campaign and while speaking to Sky Sports, the Arsenal boss understands that Saturday’s tea-time kickoff against the newly-promoted side should not be seen as a guaranteed win as he expects a tough encounter.
“Obviously our aim is to go there and win and we know they are not going to make it easy for us,” Arteta – whose first Premier League game on the touchline with Arsenal was against Bournemouth in December 2019 – said to Sky Sports.
“It is a team that has started the season pretty well – they had a really good win against (Aston) Villa and they’ve been consistently performing for over a year. It will be tough.”
Gabriel Jesus opened his Premier League account for the Gunners, scoring twice and providing the same number of assists in their last game against Leicester City.
The Brazilian will be key to provide the spark against this Bournemouth team who will be keen to bounce back following their 0-4 defeat at Manchester City last week.
This promises to also be a physical game as both sides have averaged the highest number of fouls per game with Bournemouth averaging 13.5 and Arsenal with 13.0.
Although, Arteta expects a difficult task against Bournemouth, Arsenal have not struggled against them recently.
They have not lost to the Cherries in their last five games, scoring first in six of their last seven meetings while Scott Parker’s side are yet to keep a clean sheet against Arsenal in their last 11 games.
Last time out: FA Cup 27/01/2020 – AFC Bournemouth 1-2 Arsenal
Premier League 26/12/2019 – AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Arsenal
Leeds United vs Chelsea – Elland Road (Sunday, August 21, 2022 – 2:00pm)
A lot tipped Chelsea to be the team to drop out of the top four this season but with their performance against Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday, Thomas Tuchel’s men gave their rivals and doubters a lot to thinks about.
Although, the German is expected to serve a one-game ban for his actions and comments in the aftermath of last week’s 2-2 draw, he will be on the touchline as his side travels to Elland Road to face Leeds United.
Chelsea will look to extend their unbeaten streak of eight games against Jesse Marsch’s team, who are also yet to lose this season.
Leeds are showing improvements from their woes last season but facing the Blues will definitely be their biggest test yet.
Last time out: Premier League
11/05/2022 Leeds United 0-3 Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur vs Wolverhampton Wanderers – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Saturday, August 20, 2022 – 12:30pm)
Tottenham Hotspur are set to welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to kick-off this round of Premier League action.
Antonio Conte will definitely demand an improvement from their 2-2 draw at Chelsea last Sunday against a desperate Wolves team who are yet to win a Premier League game in their last nine outings.
With Bruno Lage intent to improve his squad, he has brought in Matheus Nunes from Sporting CP for a club-record fee which could total an excess of £40million with Wolves also in the market for another striker.
Conte will be wary of the threat Wolves possess as the only time Lage’s team lost by more than one goal to a team which finished in the top nine, was their 3-1 loss to Liverpool on the final day of last season.
Last time out: Premier League
13/02/2022 – Tottenham Hotspur 0-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
West Ham United vs Brighton and Hove Albion – London Stadium (Sunday, August 21, 2022 – 2:00pm)
West Ham United have started the poorly season, with successive losses.
They will attempt to return to winning ways domestically when they host Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.
David Moyes’ team will look to build on Thursday’s triumph in their UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier against Viborg when they face a difficult task against Graham Potter’s side.
West Ham have not been able to record a win against Brighton in their last 10 games – with their most recent failure coming on the last day of last season which saw their chance to qualify for the UEFA Europa League go up in smoke.
Last time out: Premier League
22/05/2022 – Brighton and Hove Albion 3-1 West Ham United
Saturday’s 3pm kickoffs will see teams who have had underwhelming starts to the season fight for points.
Leicester City have been disappointing in their opening two games of the season. The Foxes will look to get their first win of the campaign against a Southampton team who are also yet to amass maximum points in any game.
Aston Villa recorded their first win of the season in their 1-0 win against Everton a week ago. Steven Gerrard will hope his side can build on that performance when they travel to Selhurst Park to face Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace who are searching for their first win of the season.
Brentford and Nottingham Forest each recorded their first win of the season last week. They will be hosts of Fulham and Everton, who are each seeking their first win of this term, respectively.
Premier League matchday three fixtures in full
Saturday, August 20, 2022
Tottenham Hotspur vs Wolverhampton Wanderers – 12:30pm
Everton vs Nottingham Forest – 3:00pm
Leicester City vs Southampton – 3:00pm
Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa – 3:00pm
Fulham vs Brentford – 3:00pm
AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal – 5:30pm
Sunday, August 21, 2022
Leeds United vs Chelsea – 2:00pm
West Ham United vs Brighton and Hove Albion – 2:00pm
Newcastle United vs Manchester City – 4:30pm
Monday, August 22, 2022
Manchester United vs Liverpool – 8:00pm
(All times in WAT)
