KAMPALA: Defense is to be the name of the game when five time winners Chelsea lock horns with record Premier League champions Manchester United in Saturday afternoon’s late kick off. Graham Potter’s west Londoners go into the clash with the Red Devils having not conceded a goal in over 450 minutes of action whereas Eric Ten Haag’s visitors travel to Stamford Bridge enamored by three consecutive clean sheets.
The two clubs consider Champions League qualification a minimum requirement from their new managers despite this season being largely regarded as one of transition by their respective hierarchies. Fireworks can therefore be expected in an all or nothing encounter as the two sides jostle to end week eleven of the 2022/23 campaign in a much cherished Top Four position.
Preseason second favourites Liverpool face Nottingham Forest in the early kick off buttressed by successive 1-0 victories over champions Manchester City and West Ham United. The loss of forwards Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota to injury notwithstanding, celebrated Kop manager Jurgen Klopp will feel his 19-time English top flight champions are tooled to thrive against newcomers struggling to find their bearings in the big time after a 23-year absence.
In the day’s other action, Pep Guardiola is to order his misfiring Manchester City forwards to shoot on sight in their home rubber with Roberto de Zerbi’s unpredictable Brighton Hove Albion. City begun the season like a bullet train with star striker Erling Braut Haaland memorably netting three hat tricks in a row at the Etihad Stadium. City’s failure to score away to FC Copenhagen and at home to Liverpool has served as an unwelcome reality check.
Leaders Arsenal defend a four point advantage atop the standings away to Southampton on Sunday. Bookmakers now have Mikel Arteta’s Gunners as odds on favourites to end a six year spell out of Europe’s premier club competition. An air of expectation has filled the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal’s nine victories in ten opening matches is the North Londoners best start to an English top flight campaign since 1904.
SATURDAY
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool,
Everton v Crystal Palace,
Manchester City v Brighton Hove Albion,
Chelsea v Manchester United
SUNDAY
Aston Villa v Brentford,
Leeds United v Fulham,
Southampton v Arsenal,
Wolves v Leicester City,
Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United
MONDAY
West Ham United v Bournemouth
