The English Premier league enters matchday four this weekend as players return from the international duties to continue playing for their respective teams after the halt in club football since last weekend.
A general view of the premier league logo before the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Sunday May 9, 2021. (Photo by Andy Rain/PA Images via Getty Images)
We look forward to the top ten exciting things for look forward to when games kickoff in the English too division think weekend.
7. Hammers’ form a worry for Saints
With seven points from possible nine in the league this season, West Ham United have undeniably started the new season where they left off last one. Their 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace the last time out will be considered a setback and that shows how good David Moyes side really become.
As they look to return to winning ways this weekend, in their way is Southampton, who have not won a game against the Hammers in seven attempts. West Ham have won six and drawn just one in those meetings.
It’s been a below par start to the season for the Saint who have two points from the opening three games. However, they did earn a draw against Manchester United on matchday two, which will be a good one for their confidence.
They will find themselves as the underdogs, when they play host to West Ham United this weekend, at the Saint Mary’s on Saturday evening.
6. Nuno Santos and Spurs dream start to continue
His new Tottenham Hotspur side enjoyed a stellar start to the season, which see them currently sit at the top of the league standings with three league wins from as many games.
The former Wolverhampton Wonderers manager has also been nominated and is the favourite for the Premier league manager of the month, he takes his side to the Selhurst Park in the first and early kickoff of the weekend league games.
Tottheham have a quite astonishing record against the Eagles and have not lost in their last 12 meetings in the league, winning ten in the process. The Portuguese manager also have a superior record over Palace while at Wolves.
With the current form of the team and Hueng-Min Son, while Harry Kane is also settled and focus on the season with the club, it is inevitable that Spurs continue their 100 percent start to the season.
5. Chelsea to return to winning ways
Chelsea’s winning start to the season was halted when they visited Anfield last time out in the league, in a clash which ended one all after the full time whistle.
Rightly, Chelsea will feel hard done by the sending off of Reece James when they are one goal to the good before the incidence of the England defender’s dismissal, which also birthed Liverpool’s equaliser from the spot.
But when they face an Aston Villa side, who will be without their Argentine duo of Emiliano Martinez and Buendia, at the Stamford Bridge on Saturday, they should be able to get the job done and return to winning ways in the league.
4. Arsenal to pick up first league win
Arsenal found themselves without a league win in the new season after three games. It has been a disappointing start for Mikel Arteta side but they will take positives in the fact that they have not paraded their full squad in any of the games.
With almost everyone available for this clash against Norwich City at the Emirates, the Gunners will be looking for maximum points to get their league campaign back on track.
Granit Xhaka is suspended for this one but they have Thomas Partey, Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White fit for this clash, as they continue to assess Emile Smith Rowe before the game. Mohamed Elneny has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
It has not been an easy start for Norwich also, who find themselves in the same situation as Arsenal, but without a win in their last 23 visits to London, they do not stand a good chance of taking anything away from the Emirates on Saturday.
3. Brazil stars to miss out for top clubs
Fabinho, Roberto Firmino, Allison Becker, Raphinha, Fred, Thiago Silva, Gabriel Jesus and Ederson Moraes will also miss five days for their respective clubs starting from Friday.
Brazil FA has pleaded with FIFA to inflict the punishment on the players after their clubs refused to release them for the international games.
All will now miss the weekend games for their respective clubs due to the suspension which extends to Tuesday, meaning Fred will miss Manchester United’s champions league trio to Switzerland against Young Boys.
2. Mohamed Salah milestone
Mohamed Salah is one goal away from reaching 100 Premier league goals and he faces Leeds United at Anfield on Sunday.
The Egyptian has a good record against Marcelo Bielsa side, scoring a hat-trick in his only start against them, which came on the opening weekend of last season in a 4-3 Liverpool win at Anfield.
He will be going into this one, looking to add to his three league goals this season and to help Liverpool return to winning ways, after their draw against Chelsea last time out.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo’s second United debut bad news for Magpies
The return of Cristiano Ronaldo will be a major worry for Newcastle United when they take on Manchester United this weekend at the Old Trafford Stadium.
The Portuguese had a hand in eleven goals in as many games against the Magpies in his first stint with United and did not lose in any of them games, with Manchester United winning ten and drawing just once.
His only hat-trick in the Premier league came against Newcastle United in a 6-0 United win in January 2009 and after his achievement over the years before sealing a return to Old Trafford, Newcastle will be wary of the havocs the Portuguese can cause them.
Afolabi Kehinde Hassan
