Before we jet off into our first international break of the season, the Premier League has served up some cracking matches.

Arsenal’s trip to Manchester City kicks off a fixture list also featuring Liverpool's clash with Chelsea at Anfield and Manchester United's trip to Wolves.

Manchester City vs Arsenal (Saturday, 12.30pm, BT Sport)

Pep Guardiola will look to heap more pressure on former assistant Mikel Arteta as Manchester City host Arsenal at the Etihad.

Arteta’s work as Guardiola’s No2 saw him appointed at the Gunners 20 months ago, yet he has struggled to have the same impact as his fellow Spaniard.

And after defeats to Brentford and Chelsea, the last team Gunners fans wanted to face was City.

Guardiola has never lost to Arsenal in the league in 10 attempts — winning all of the last eight clashes between the sides and nine in total.

Raheem Sterling netted the only goal in both games between the sides last year and will be relishing the chance to fill his boots against a struggling visiting defence.

Aston Villa vs Brentford (Saturday, 3pm)

It is a similar story at Villa Park, where Aston Villa boss Dean Smith comes up against former club Brentford — now managed by his former assistant Thomas Frank.

The Bees have taken to Premier League life and are buzzing after keeping clean sheets in a win over Arsenal and goalless draw with Crystal Palace.

They will have to find a way to keep Villa’s marquee summer signing Danny Ings quiet after he hit the ground running with two goals in his opening two games.

Frank would also love last season’s Championship top scorer Ivan Toney to open his top-flight account, though only two keepers kept more clean sheets than Villa’s Emi Martinez (16) last campaign.

Villa have never lost a top-flight game to Brentford in six attempts but they did fail to beat them in six Championship meetings between 2016 and 2019.

Brighton vs Everton (Saturday, 3pm)

Early season pace-setters Brighton welcome Everton to the Amex Stadium eyeing a third win in three games.

Victories over Burnley and Watford have given the Seagulls their best-ever start to a Premier League season.

And with no home side ever losing in the eight previous meetings between these two sides, Graham Potter will be eyeing up more points on the South Coast.

Not that it will be an easy task against Everton, who have made a bright start to life under Rafa Benitez with victory over Southampton followed by a draw at Leeds.

Dangermen Neal Maupay, with two goals in two games, and Richarlison, who had five shots and created three chances at Leeds, will hope to provide the attacking spark for their respective sides.

Newcastle vs Southampton (Saturday, 3pm)

The sight of Southampton will warm Newcastle fans’ hearts as they hope their side can arrest a poor start to the new season.

Steve Bruce’s men have lost both Premier League games and exited the Carabao Cup on penalties in midweek but have a brilliant record against the Saints.

They have won 12 of their 16 home games with Southampton in the Premier League era, including each of the last four at St James’ Park.

But Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side will arrive in the North East buoyed by a battling 1-1 draw with Manchester United and a 7-0 thumping of Newport in the cup.

And it is a big day for boyhood Geordie Adam Armstrong, who played 15 times for the Magpies at the start of his career, as he looks to fire his new club to their first three points of the campaign.

Norwich vs Leicester (Saturday, 3pm)

Norwich’s brutal start to life back in the Premier League continues with the visit of Leicester to Carrow Road.

After defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City, it gets no easier for the Canaries as they search for their first goals and points of the campaign.

Though they have lost 12 Premier League games in a row (the third-worst run in top-flight history), Norwich’s last victory of the 2019-20 campaign did come at home to the Foxes.

And with Brendan Rodgers’ side suffering a harrowing 4-1 defeat at West Ham on Monday night, confidence will not be high in either camp.

If Daniel Farke’s men are to stay in the Premier League, they will need Teemu Pukki to find his scoring boots quickly — he is yet to get off the mark this campaign.

West Ham vs Crystal Palace (Saturday, 3pm)

Crystal Palace will want to ruin the feel-good factor at West Ham when they make the short trip to East London.

The Hammers lead the Premier League after two games and victory over the Eagles would give them their best start to a season since 1983.

Michail Antonio and Said Benrahma have been the star men for West Ham, with the duo becoming the first team-mates to both score and assist in each of their opening top-flight games.

It has been a slower start to life for new Palace boss Patrick Vieira, who is still searching for his first win in the Eagles dugout.

A draw with Brentford saw them pick up their first point last Saturday but no goals in three games in all competitions will be a concern for the Frenchman.

Liverpool vs Chelsea (Saturday, 5.30pm, Sky Sports)

The first blockbuster clash of the Premier League season sees expected title contenders Liverpool and Chelsea do battle at Anfield.

After perfect starts to the campaign for each side, Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel will want to lay down a marker before the international break.

The Blues won 1-0 at Anfield in March — but that was just their second victory in the past 13 meetings between the pair.

And the Reds have come on strongly since their struggles in the early part of 2021, winning their past seven games and scoring twice in each of those victories.

Diogo Jota has netted in the wins over Norwich and Burnley this campaign, while keeping Romelu Lukaku quiet after his debut goal for Chelsea will be key for the Reds.

Burnley vs Leeds (Sunday, 2pm, Sky Sports)

Sean Dyche needs Burnley’s EFL Cup victory at Newcastle to provide a springboard in the league as Leeds make the short trip across the Pennines. 

Usually considered a difficult place to visit, the Clarets have proven a soft touch at Turf Moor in recent times, losing their last five on the own patch.

A defeat to Brighton on the opening day was followed up by another one at Liverpool, leaving Dyche’s boys pointless at this stage.

A 4-0 victory at Burnley last year was one of Leeds’ best displays of the campaign and oddly, they are yet to draw an away game since their return to the top-flight.

And of all the teams they have faced more than 50 times in English football, only against Coventry (53.8%) do they have a better win rate than Burnley (51.7%).

Tottenham vs Watford (Sunday, 2pm)

Tottenham will aim to continue their perfect start to the season when Watford make the short trip to North London.

Fresh off a 3-0 win over Pacos de Ferreira, which saw Harry Kane open his account for the season with a brace, Spurs are aiming for a third consecutive Premier League victory.

Nuno Espirito Santo would become the first Spurs manager to win his first three top-flight games in charge if they do see off Watford.

The Hornets' only previous visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw Dele Alli's 86th minute equaliser deny them victory, something they did not manage in their final nine visits to White Hart Lane.

Defeat at Brighton last weekend means it is seven Premier League away defeats in a row for Watford, who have not won on any of their past 10 trips to the capital in the top-flight.

Wolves vs Manchester United (Sunday, 4pm, Sky Sports)

Manchester United are aiming to set a new English football record at Wolves on Sunday afternoon.

If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Red Devils avoid defeat, their 28-game unbeaten run away from home will beat the previous record of 27, set by Arsenal in 2004.

Given Wolves have lost five of their past seven at Molineux and are yet to pick up a point under new boss Bruno Lage, United will fancy their chances too.

Only Liverpool (46) have attempted more shots than goal-shy Wolves (42), yet they have been unable to find the back of the net.

Though Paul Pogba has been creator-in-chief for United this season, Mason Greenwood would become the first teenager since Robbie Fowler in 1994 to score in the opening three games of the campaign.