Premier League

Wolves have the best defensive record in the Premier League this season but that will be put to test when they host free-scoring Manchester City. The defending champions lead the way with 20 goals so something must give but Wolves may be able to avoid a thrashing on home soil.

Steven Gerrard will hope Aston Villa’s draw with champions Manchester City last time out can spark their season into life. Villa had lost four of their first five matches but the 1-1 draw with Pep Guardiola’s men proved what Villa are capable of.

Brighton and Leicester are rated similar in terms of quality but Albion are playing with much more confidence and self-belief this season. The Foxes are bottom of the table with just one point from five outings and still seem shaken by what was a turbulent transfer window.

New-look Nottingham Forest have made an encouraging start to the season and backed up their first win over West Ham with a 1-1 draw at Everton. Now they face their most difficult game so far against unbeaten Tottenham, who have seven points on the board after Harry Kane’s second-half goal was enough to beat Wolves.

Manchester United take a trip to the south coast to take on Southampton in a resurgent spirit following Monday’s incredible 2-1 win over Liverpool. St Mary’s has been a happy hunting ground for United in recent seasons but their recent away record in the Premier League will give Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side belief.

Arsenal have found Bournemouth a tricky place to visit in the past, winning just one of their last four Premier League games at this venue. However, the Gunners have already done enough in the early stages of this season to suggest they will be more reliable in such fixtures.

Tottenham host Wolves on the back of their fiery 2-2 draw at London rivals Chelsea and are fancied to enjoy a welcome smooth success. Wanderers have just one point and a single goal to show from their opening two matches and are yet to find any real spark up front.

Leeds and Chelsea will look to shrug off disappointment when they face off at Elland Road. Leeds let a two-goal lead slip versus Southampton at St Mary’s while the Blues conceded a last-gasp equaliser against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Sunday before tempers flared.

Man Utd began the new season in just as much disarray as they finished last term and are hard to back at Brentford. The Bees kicked off with a brave draw at Leicester and look more settled than when well beaten twice by the Red Devils in their debut Premier League campaign.

West Ham have made great progress under David Moyes over the past couple of years, including in their clashes with Man City. The Hammers have picked up a point in two straight Premier League meetings at London Stadium and beat the Blues on penalties in the EFL Cup last term.

Leicester claimed an eighth-placed finish following a fine end to 2021/22 while Brentford will be out to avoid the dreaded ‘second season syndrome’. The Foxes did the double over the promoted Bees last term, with the west London club ending a very respectable 13th.

Fulham face a baptism of fire on their return to the Premier League when hosting last season’s runners-up Liverpool at Craven Cottage. The Reds won 16 of their final 18 fixtures in this competition last term, drawing with Manchester City and Tottenham in the other two.