Arsenal have a good record against Manchester United in recent Premier League meetings at Emirates Stadium and are fancied to continue that trend. The Gunners have picked up 13 points out of a possible 15 from the last five top-flight encounters at this venue, outscoring the Red Devils 10-3.
Newcastle and Liverpool face another early test of their top-four credentials when they meet on Tyneside in the pick of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures. Both teams have reasons for optimism this season but it is Liverpool who need the biggest improvement, especially on the road having suffered eight away defeats last season.
Manchester City added another trophy to their growing collection this week but might be worth opposing on their return to Premier League action. City have been taken to penalties in both the Community Shield and European Super Cup, plus Kevin De Bruyne is sidelined by injury.
Tottenham have not beaten Manchester United on home turf for the past five Premier League seasons but are a value bet to buck that trend. The Red Devils posted some moderate results in pre-season and looked badly undercooked for Monday’s opening match against Wolves.
A new winner of the Women’s World Cup is guaranteed as England face Spain in an all-European final in Sydney on Sunday. Neither team has featured in the final before but England have made it to the showpiece match in a second successive tournament after being crowned European champions last summer.
Manchester City have the chance to add another trophy to their collection when they face Sevilla in the European Super Cup. City go into the match as firm favourites after winning the treble and history is on their side, with the Champions League winners having triumphed in this fixture in nine of the last 10 years.
Chelsea and Liverpool spent the week battling for the signature of Moises Caicedo and now meet on the pitch in the pick of the opening round of Premier League fixtures. Both teams will be hoping to make a quick start after dismal campaigns last season and Chelsea have a new man in charge in Mauricio Pochettino.
England have been far from spectacular at the Women’s World Cup so far but are still on course to top Group D with three straight wins. After shading 1-0 victories over Haiti and Denmark, the Lionesses are fancied to grind out another triumph over China in Adelaide.
England will look to build on a hard-fought win over Haiti when facing Denmark in their second Women’s World Cup fixture in Sydney on Friday. The Danes also made a successful start to their Group D campaign by edging out China and are just nine places lower down the FIFA rankings.
England are expected to enjoy an easy win in their opening Group D game at the Women’s World Cup when facing unfancied Haiti in Brisbane. The Lionesses reached the semi-finals at the last two renewals of this tournament and will be looking to build on their memorable Euro 2022 triumph.
Spain are fancied to prove just too sharp for Croatia in Sunday’s Nations League final at De Kuip in Rotterdam. La Roja were runners-up to France two years ago but can go one better this time after seeing off Italy in the semis, following Croatia’s extra-time defeat of hosts Holland.
Italy were edged out 2-1 by Spain in the Nations League semi-finals a couple of years ago but may turn the tables in the Netherlands this time around. The Azzurri, who beat La Roja on penalties at the same stage of the delayed Euro 2020, have a more experienced squad than their opponents here.
The missing piece in the Manchester City jigsaw can be added when Pep Guardiola’s team face Inter Milan in the 2023 Champions League final in Istanbul. City have been the dominant force in English football for the last decade and have won the Premier League and FA Cup double this season but they are yet to conquer Europe, with this being only their second appearance in the final.
Fiorentina and West Ham have been the stand-out teams throughout this season’s Europa Conference League and clash in the Prague final. Both teams have looked strong going forward, scoring plenty of goals, but the Hammers may have the edge in defensive resilience.