Hopefully, this weekend should feel like a real round of Premier League football, as the opening gameweek felt disjointed and a little…empty.
But this time, we have all 20 sides in action over the next three days. Yes!
“Werner’s pace and razor-sharp movement can expose Liverpool’s defence” ⚡️@adrianjclarke previews #CHELIV ➡️ https://t.co/9kE3NTf74e pic.twitter.com/AZMSoVQjLK
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 18, 2020
Manchester United and Manchester City sit in mid-table, Arsenal top the league, Liverpool miss out on Champions League football, while Fulham and West Brom look set for an immediate return to the second tier.
Oh, don’t we love when we’re just at a game?
A pleasant September weekend awaits us this time, and here’s everything to know about the Premier League fixtures in Gameweek Two of 2020/21.
Good looking team, that. / Alex Pantling / Getty Images
What time is kick off?12:30pm BST
Where is it played? Goodison Park
TV channel/live stream? BT Sports
Read on 90 minutes Preview Here.
Everton threw all their new expensive eggs into the basket in their Premier League opener against Tottenham, and guess what? It worked!
James Rodríguez, Allen and Abdoulaye Doucourt all performed well in their shiny new midfield, despite only knowing each other for about 30 minutes. With a lot of structure to their game and a solid front four, they got the campaign off to a flying start.
Less so for West Brom. A good start against Leicester soon faded, and they put in a light performance at home to the Foxes, ending up as 3–0 losers.
Yep, not a great reintroduction to Premier League life. It’s going to be a tough old season.
Prediction: Everton 2-0 West Brom
Bielsa Can’t Stare Death / Mark Atkins / Getty Images
What time is kick off? 15:00 BST
Where is it played? Elland Road
TV channel/live stream? BT Sports
Read on 90 minutes Preview Here.
From a neutral point of view, Leeds’ narrow loss to Liverpool was all we could ask for from a Premier League match: interesting patterns of play, interesting tactics and plenty of goals.
Indeed, supporters of both clubs probably thought the same. Ironically, the losing side will probably be the most motivated of the two. Leeds were good value for their three goals, going toe-to-toe with the champions on their own patch and showing real signs of encouragement for the rest of the season.
Fulham… not so much. There wasn’t much to cheer about in their opening-day defeat against Arsenal, perhaps only that they can expect Aleksandar Mitrović to return to the starting line-up.
This is a squad that lacks many things. Such games take place on the streets where returns and safety can be decided. Not on this occasion though.
Prediction: Leeds 2-1 Fulham
Yep, it’s definitely not backwards / John Kruger / Getty Images
What time is kick off? 17:30 BST
Where is it played? Old Trafford
TV channel/live stream? Heavenly game
Read on 90 minutes Preview Here.
Penchester Penited [citation needed] Crystal Palace hosted Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in a clash that was one of the few highlights for the visitors last season.
From Daniel James’ awkward and silly celebration to Patrick van Aanholt’s injury-time winner, it was an entertaining clash. This time, United are a lot less nonsense, with Donnie van de Beek and Bruno Fernandes in their ranks and one of the most exciting young talents in European football… yet to join.
Meanwhile, Palace stunned the sporting world when they scored a literal goal in their opening-day win over Southampton, showing plenty of motivation to let them know. It was only recently that three points were discovered, which increased the value of Wilfried Zaha. A few million in the process.
It won’t matter, because it looks like United will lose.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-0 Crystal Palace
London’s second bout on the bounce by the Gunners/Julian Finney/Getty Images
What time is kick off? 20:00 BST
Where is it played? Emirates Stadium
TV channel/live stream? Heavenly game
Read on 90 minutes Preview Here.
Top of the league!
Fulham are being beaten!
While it’s not much to shout about, Mikel Arteta has been making some interesting changes to the Arsenal squad that seem to have embedded well into his players. Coherence, clarity and proper coaching have seen them look like a decent side again.
Cross town, and David Moyes is making absolutely no changes to his West Ham team, who seem incapable of new ideas. Carelessness, confusion and misguided coaching have seen them still look like a very poor side.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 West Ham
Has Ndombele done enough to play? Being on the bench is enough, Jose Mourinho will probably argue / Nikolay Duchinov / Getty Images
What time is kick off? 12:00pm BST
Where is it played? Saint Mary
TV channel/live stream? BT Sports
Two sides with teams who like to march into the match on the sunny south coast on Sunday.
Harry Kane’s recent injury sight will appear in decidedly happier circumstances than last week, as Gareth Bale will once again be a Tottenham player ahead of the clash at St Mary’s.
Will that be enough to lift a squad that was so poor on opening day? Maybe, but Saints need to pick themselves up after back-to-back league and Carabao Cup defeats.
Ralf Hessenhuttel will be a troubled man, and his harsh German accent will be enough to elicit a reaction from his team.
Prediction: Southampton 1-1 Tottenham
Two handsome men ready to face off again / Dan Stettin/Getty Images
What time is kick off? 14:00 BST
Where is it played? St James’s Park
TV channel/live stream? Heavenly game
It’s remarkable how much better Newcastle look when Julianton is nowhere near the starting line-up. Callum Wilson came in and gave them pace at the back, as well as providing forward runs that weren’t completely clueless in space hoping no one noticed.
Crazy how solving your problems can solve so many problems.
Brighton, despite losing 3-1 at home to Chelsea, looked good in the spell. They are a side that can create chances, they just haven’t got the balance in midfield. A few people’s picks to go down, they should have enough to last this season (even if they lose this weekend too).
Prediction: Newcastle 1-0 Brighton
Okay fine? all good. /gettyimages/gettyimages
What time is kick off? 16:30 BST
Where is it played? Stamford Bridge
TV channel/live stream? Heavenly game
We are here. Two rounds of fixtures into the Premier League season and we’ve already been given a cracker. Now, we could point straight to the fact that these two closed the gap by 33 points last season and call it straight, but we’re not going to.
With the new season still fresh and unpredictable, jumping to conclusions is a risk. Liverpool are the better team, but Chelsea have just poured hundreds of millions of pounds into their squad and the Reds were shakier in their opening win against Leeds.
With 11 goals scored in the two games that these sides opened their campaign with, both squads have defensive uncertainties.
Then what was the result? No goals. This is not always the goal. Both sides will fear too much adventure, so it can go down like a damp squib.
Prediction: Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
Chasing the Golden Boot again / Michael Regan / Getty Images
What time is kick off? 19:00 BST
Where is it played? King Power Stadium
TV channel/live stream? BBC Sports
With a comfortable victory in the bag, Leicester are back where they started last season – before collapsing horribly at the latter end. They may have given away penalties but Jamie Vardy is back in goals, and at (very early) glance, Timothee Castagan looks like a suitable replacement for Ben Chilwell.
With James Maddison back fit, they should use Sunday’s clash with Burnley as an opportunity to put the game between themselves and teams not yet fit, although it will allow them to challenge for the top four again. will say
Burnley have yet to play in the league but secured their place in the third round of the Carabao Cup with victory over Sheffield United, but another season of underinvestment can only go unpunished for so long.
They will only play the way they know how and will try to suffocate Leicester’s attacking players, but their lack of pace at the back may show.
Prediction: Leicester 2-0 Burnley
It makes the game look more exciting than last season / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
What time is kick off? 18:00 BST
Where is it played? Villa Park
TV channel/live stream? Heavenly game
Hawkeye-gate In one of the more boring matches of the last 100 years, this match last season was a nice way to welcome football back to our screens.
Whether Aston Villa are good enough to last again or their big spending will add to their financial woes if they go back will be the main narrative this season. However, they have bought a fine striker (if unproven) and a top goalkeeper (if also somewhat unproven) who will fit right in with Jack Grealish and his shiny new contract.
Sheffield United, however, seem to be unsettled. They don’t boast anywhere near enough goals in their team, so if they concede early they find themselves in deep trouble chasing matches without any strength.
They could do with Ollie Watkins, not Ollie McBurney. It’s early days, but the opposing sides may have figured out how to beat them.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Sheffield United
Last season’s clash was Cracker / Vision Haas / Getty Images.
What time is kick off? 20:15 BST
Where is it played? Molineux
TV channel/live stream? Heavenly game
A repeat of last season’s 3-2 thriller would be nice, but unlikely. Rusty will come into play for the visitors who are yet to kick a ball in the Premier League, so we could see a cagey clash on Monday night.
Wolves seem to have added another gear to their attack with Daniel Podens, bringing another – smaller – element to their strike force. It works easily as a balancing act with Adama Traore, while both have the quality of delivery that Raul Jimenez has.
No Doherty, no problem, it seems, after the opening day victory.
City have bolstered the squad once again, with big-money signings, given that John Stones is now far from even kicking a ball in a Premier League match with the addition of Nathan Ake. Phil Foden will now take over as David Silva’s successor and there are early signs that there are tools in his locker.
They will challenge properly this season.
Prediction: Wolves 0-1 Manchester City