Crystal Palace and Fulham will both be looking to bounce back from defeats when they finally resume their campaign. Palace suffered a dismal loss at Nottingham Forest while Fulham were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United deep into added time.
With the World Cup over, many players have already returned to European club football ahead of the resumption of their domestic seasons. We’ve analysed the impact of international exertions on each squad and who has the toughest reintroduction to their league schedule.
Sunderland versus Blackburn should be a close contest on paper, with the Black Cats eight points adrift in the Championship but buoyed by home advantage. However, it is hard to go for a draw, as Rovers have gone 23 league games without sharing the spoils this season.
Wigan and Sheffield United are currently on course to exit the Championship via opposite ends ahead of their meeting on Monday evening. The Latics are languishing in the relegation zone but United are on course for a return to the Premier League in second place.
Fourth-placed Norwich can jump above faltering Blackburn in third if they secure back-to-back wins since returning from the World Cup break. Rovers will travel to Norfolk reeling from a 4-1 defeat to Preston in the Lancashire derby at Ewood Park and without a win at Carrow Road since 1999.
Birmingham can leapfrog Reading with a victory in Friday night’s televised Championship match and are fancied to seize the opportunity. Blues are three points behind their visitors with a better goal difference and will be looking to climb into the top half of the table during the second half of the season.
Rob Edwards will take charge of Luton at Kenilworth Road for the first time with a rare morning kick-off against Millwall on Sunday. His first match in charge ended in a last-gasp defeat at Middlesbrough while Millwall have failed to win either of their two games since the World Cup break.
Two teams in fine form clash when Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray welcomes his former club West Brom to the north east. The Black Cats have already returned to Championship action, beating Millwall last weekend to bookend the World Cup break with victories.
It’s derby day in Lancashire when Blackburn and Preston meet at Ewood Park as the Championship returns. Both sides will be raring to go having signed off before the World Cup with a defeat, while Preston will want to erase memories of a 4-1 hammering the last time they met in April.
Burnley have been sitting pretty at the top of the table while the Championship has been on hold for the World Cup but that might not be the case when they return to action at managerless QPR on Sunday. Sheffield United could hit the summit with a win over Huddersfield 24 hours before the teams line up at Loftus Road.
Man Utd have shown their good and bad sides over the past week but should have too much firepower for Fulham if on their best behaviour. The Cottagers will be content with a mid-table position but have generally come up just short against the bigger clubs.
Brighton took a while to come to terms with a change of manager but now look firmly back on track ahead of hosting Aston Villa. The visitors have had mixed fortunes since their own leadership switch and may need the World Cup break before fully embracing fresh tactics.
The hype around Newcastle has been growing recently, whereas Chelsea have been criticised during a poor run of results. However, we feel bookmakers may have overreacted in making the Blues 2/1 underdogs, having won seven of the last eight renewals of this fixture.
Wolves fared better than Arsenal in the EFL Cup this week but it is hard not to go for an away win on Premier League form. The Gunners will be determined to stay on top of the table heading into the World Cup break, while struggling Wanderers are in the relegation zone.