Manchester United boss Eric Ten Haag has implored his players to arrest a slump that has witnessed the record English Premier League champions lose four out of their last six matches. United were on the receiving end of a 4-3 defeat at Bayern Munich on Wednesday night in a game that saw marquee summer signing Andre Onana concede a comical goal. The Red Devils are one of several teams struggling with injuries but Ten Haag will not use it as an excuse as he plots for Saturday night’s game at winless Burnley.
United’s beleaguered Three Lions defender Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan Bissaka are the latest Old Trafford based players to join a treatment room that already has Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Kobie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Tom Heaton and Raphael Varane. Jadon Sancho is also unavailable for selection after he criticises the club for using him as a scapegoat for the club’s poor displays.
Champions Manchester City will welcome Croatian Mateo Kovacic into their squad to face Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon but manager Pep Guardiola is without John Stones, Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish. Last season’s treble winners lead the nascent standings with a maximum 15 points but there is little room for error as three clubs are in hot pursuit just two points adrift.
Unbeaten pair Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal face off at Emirates Stadium on Sunday in the most significant encounter of the match day. New Spurs boss Ange Postecoglu has won over neutrals for the expansive football being played by the north London side but in Arsenal they are up against a side that’s traditionally bossed the fixture. The outcome may hinge on the midfield confrontation between James Maddison and Pape Sarr on one hand and Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard on the other.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is under increasing pressure following a difficult start to his Stamford Bridge tenure that has seen the west Londoners pick up one victory in five outings. The Argentine is still without twelve injured first team players for the visit of Aston Villa who only arrived back in the country on Friday morning after losing a Europa Conference League match at Poland’s Legia Warsaw in Thursday night.
SATURDAY
Crystal Palace v Fulham,
Luton Town v Wolves,
Manchester City v Nottingham Forest,
Brentford v Everton,
Burnley v Manchester United
SUNDAY
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur,
Brighton v Bournemouth,
Chelsea v Aston Villa,
Liverpool v West Ham United,
Sheffield United v Newcastle United