Premier League Matchday 13: Blues and Red Devils meet in blockbuster clash

Premier League fans have no time to rest after a manic midweek with all of the division’s 20 sides back in action on Matchday 13.

Improving Liverpool head to struggling Nottingham Forest in Saturday’s opening contest, while the standout clash of the weekend comes later that day when Chelsea host Manchester United.

League leaders Arsenal head to Southampton on Sunday afternoon before West Ham and Bournemouth round things off on Monday evening.

We have all 10 fixtures previewed for you below.

Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool (Saturday, 12.30pm, BT Sport 1)

Basement boys Forest welcome Liverpool to the City Ground for a first league clash between the pair in 23 years in the weekend’s opening encounter.

Forest did host the Merseysiders in a close-fought FA Cup quarter-final tie last term, however, which the visitors edged 1-0 thanks to a late Diogo Jota strike.

Steve Cooper’s men have scored first in their last three home games but have not won any of them, while Jurgen Klopp’s side have not tasted success in any of their four top-flight away contests this term.

Something has to give and Liverpool’s record against promoted sides suggest they may be the ones to snap their streak — they are undefeated in their last 16 away trips to such opponents.

Everton vs Crystal Palace (Saturday, 3pm)

Everton will look to snap a run of three straight defeats by maintaining an impressive recent record against Crystal Palace.

The Toffees are unbeaten in their last seven home encounters with the Eagles, winning four and drawing three, losing just one of the pair’s last 15 top-flight meetings overall.

Scoring goals has been a real issue for Frank Lampard’s men at Goodison Park, with their three strikes in five contests this season a league-low tally, tied with Wolves.

That suggests a third straight goalless draw on the road could be on the cards for Palace, with only Fulham having ever endured such a run, back in December 2008.

Manchester City vs Brighton (Saturday, 3pm)

Champions Manchester City will be desperate to get back on track after defeat to Liverpool when Brighton visit the Etihad.

The Citizens were on a 21-game unbeaten streak in the top tier prior to last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Anfield — they have not lost back-to-back league clashes since December 2018.

Roberto De Zerbi is still searching for his maiden victory in charge of the visitors and defeat here would make him the first Premier League manager since Scott Parker in April 2019 to go winless in his first five outings.

City's homegrown hero Phil Foden loves facing Brighton, with five goals and an assist in his last four games against them — another here would make him the first to score in five straight top-flight games against the Seagulls.

Chelsea vs Manchester United (Saturday, 5.30pm, Sky Sports)

In-form Manchester United head to Stamford Bridge hunting to extend an impressive unbeaten streak against Chelsea.

The visitors can make it 10 league clashes without defeat against the Blues, though six of those previous eight contests have ended level.

Erik ten Hag’s men brushed aside Tottenham in midweek and have won five of their last six away games, snapping a dire run of seven straight losses on the road prior to that.

Chelsea boss Graham Potter has already beaten United with Brighton this term, meaning he can become the first boss to defeat the Red Devils with two different sides in the same season for 113 years.

Aston Villa vs Brentford (Sunday, 2pm)

Aston Villa begin life after Steven Gerrard with a tricky home clash against Brentford.

Though Thomas Frank’s visitors arrive in good spirits, they will need to rewrite history to triumph here with the Villans having never lost a home game against the Bees in their history.

Since beating Southampton 4-0 in March, Villa have only netted nine times in 11 home matches, drawing a blank on four occasions — each of those against London sides.

Ivan Toney still has hopes of making Gareth Southgate’s England squad for next month’s World Cup and the red-hot hitman has six goals in as many matches.

Leeds vs Fulham (Sunday, 2pm)

Pressure is building on Jesse Marsch at Leeds and defeat at home to Fulham would be disastrous for the American coach.

History suggests this is a kind fixture for the West Yorkshire club, having emerged victorious in their last three league meetings with the Cottagers, who have not won at Elland Road in five trips.

Marco Silva’s men have caught the eye recently though and are prolific scorers, finding the net in 10 of their 11 league clashes so far this term.

This game may end up being a tale of two strikers. Patrick Bamford has scored in all four of his league meetings with Fulham, while Aleksandar Mitrovic has six direct goal involvements against the Whites in as many meetings (four goals, two assists).

Southampton vs Arsenal (Sunday, 2pm, Sky Sports)

League leaders Arsenal head to St Mary’s where Southampton will be hoping to spring another surprise against the Gunners.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints won this fixture 1-0 back in April, though the North Londoners are clearly in vastly better shape than they were six months ago.

No Premier League side have kept more away clean sheets this term (four) or conceded fewer goals on the road (three) than Mikel Arteta’s men, while Southampton only secured the first shutout of their top-flight campaign in midweek.

Bukayo Saka has been Arsenal’s shining light in recent weeks with all eight of his direct goal involvements in the league this term coming in his last seven appearances.

Wolves vs Leicester (Sunday, 2pm)

Two of the division’s bottom three meet at Molineux when managerless Wolves entertain improving Leicester.

The hosts certainly hold the edge in recent head-to-head meetings, going unbeaten in all of their last six home league encounters with the Foxes (three wins, three draws).

Having grinded out a vital 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest last Saturday, the West Midlands outfit are out to secure consecutive home league wins for the first time in a year.

Brendan Rodgers’ visitors have taken seven points from their last four matches but remain on a five-match losing streak on their Premier League travels — though they have not lost consecutive matches to Wolves since 1992.

Tottenham vs Newcastle (Sunday, 4.30pm, Sky Sports)

Tottenham need to bounce back quickly from midweek defeat at Manchester United if they are to keep pace with the divison’s leading lights.

Newcastle are the visitors to North London and Eddie Howe’s men have avoided defeat in six of their last seven road trips, including a 4-1 win at Fulham on their last visit to the capital.

Spurs do have an edge on the Magpies recently, though, having won seven of the last 10 clashes and Antonio Conte’s men netted eight times across last season’s two encounters.

Harry Kane has five goals and three assists in his last five meetings with Newcastle, while Miguel Almiron is a man in form — the visiting attacker has five goals in 11 games this term. 

West Ham vs Bournemouth (Monday, 8pm, Sky Sports)

East London is the location for the final clash of the weekend as West Ham look for a big three points at home to Bournemouth.

David Moyes’ Hammers saw a five-game unbeaten streak in all competitions ended at Anfield in midweek, though they were unlucky not to take at least a point having missed a penalty in the 1-0 defeat.

The Cherries have enjoyed some success against their hosts in the past — in fact, during their initial five-year Premier League stint, the 15 points they took off the Irons was more than against any other side.

While things are going well under Gary O’Neil’s caretaker stewardship, the visitors are only having 7.8 shots per game, which is the lowest in the top flight by a distance. 

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