Antonio Conte takes charge of Tottenham for the first time at home in the Premier League when Leeds visit on Sunday. The Italian saw his side claim a goalless draw at Everton last weekend, the same day as Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds team secured an encouraging point at home to Leicester.
There have already been five managerial changes in the Premier League this season but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer survived the international break and now takes his Manchester United team to struggling Watford. United have only won one of their last six games but are still firm favourites to get the better of Watford.
Burnley picked up an unexpected point at Chelsea before the international break and will look to build on that at home to Crystal Palace. We’re not reading too much into that result, though, given how dominant Chelsea were and 10th-placed Palace have been much more impressive this season.
Chelsea dropped points at home prior to the international break and the Premier League leaders have had a frustrating wait to make amends. Burnley became the first team other than title contenders Liverpool and Manchester City to take points off Chelsea this season with a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Newcastle cannot just wait until January signings arrive to step up their relegation fight and new manager Eddie Howe will be desperate to make a winning start at St James’ Park. His first three home matches in charge are against fellow strugglers Brentford, Norwich and Burnley so Howe has an early chance to get the Toon Army onside.
New Norwich manager Dean Smith faces Southampton for the second time in a fortnight and will hope for revenge at Carrow Road. A 1-0 defeat against the Saints prior to the international break resulted in Smith being sacked by Aston Villa so he will know all about his first opponents now he has moved to East Anglia.
Argentina are looking to make it three consecutive victories over arch-rivals Brazil in Tuesday night’s World Cup qualifier. La Albiceleste won 1-0 in both a November 2019 Superclasico de las Americas clash in Saudi Arabia and this summer’s Copa America final in Rio.
Canada have been on an upward curve for some time now and can give their World Cup hopes another boost by holding Mexico on home turf. The Cannucks ended a five-match losing run in head-to-head encounters with El Tri when drawing 1-1 at Aztec Stadium last month.
England still need to get something from their trip to San Marino to make sure of top spot in World Cup Group I but that shouldn’t be difficult. These teams have met five times in the last decade, with the Three Lions prevailing in all of those games by an aggregate score of 29-0.
Scotland have already wrapped up second spot in World Cup Group F ahead of facing runaway leaders Denmark but will be keen to finish on a high. Steve Clarke’s side have rattled off five straight wins in this pool since September’s 2-0 loss to the Danes in Copenhagen.
Northern Ireland face a daunting task when taking on an Italy side looking to claim top spot in World Cup Group C. The Azzurri are only ahead of Switzerland on goal difference and the Rossocrociati will be eyeing a convincing victory at home to Bulgaria.
Losing at home to Luxembourg was the low point of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign and they will be keen to claim revenge. The Republic have produced some far more encouraging results recently and are taken to put the record straight in this Group A finale.
Wales are already assured of a place in the World Cup play-offs due to their Nations League exploits but are still chasing second place in Group E. The Dragons could secure a home semi-final if runners-up to Belgium and will boost those hopes with a convincing victory.
England have made hard work of getting over the finishing line in the race to reach Qatar 2022 but should edge closer by beating Albania. The Three Lions are three points ahead of Poland and five clear of their next opponents in World Cup Group I.