A somewhat lackluster fixtures schedule has many watchers focused on Elland Road where Michael Carrick desperately needs a win by visiting Manchester United to relieve the pressure on the besieged manager. Things have turned quickly for Carrick, who was riding high off a third-place finish last season but now, with a well-earned contract in hand, cannot seem to do anything right. The Red Devils have but one Premier League victory in six tries, managed to only draw versus relegation zone resident Spurs last weekend and lost 2-0 to Atletico Madrid in the Champions Legue mid-week for good measure. Leeds lost for the first time last weekend when the Whites squandered an early lead in a 2-1 loss to defending champion Arsenal. The Whites will be looking for a strong rebound in front of the home supporters on Sunday.
Arsenal moves on to Nottingham Forest this week. Tricky Trees Manager Oliver Glasner is smarting from taking a beating at his former club Crystal Palace this past week and the defending champions are not welcome visitors as Glasner tries to gain traction with City Ground supporters.
Manchester City returns to the friendly confines of the Etihad after hearing nothing but vitriol from Liverpool supporters at Anfield last weekend. Despite the sticks and stones, City powered by the homestanding Reds and can be expected to provide a rude welcome to visiting Ipswich.
Brentford is only three points behind Brighton as both are unusual occupants of top four positions in the table. The Bees are home Saturday to a club which is usually found in those places but this year not so much. Liverpool is still adapting to the new Andoni Iraola era and suffered an embarrassing 3-0 Anfield whitewashing last week versus Man City. Brentford has crept into the top four despite winning just twice, identical 3-0 scorelines over Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, while drawing the rest of its matches.
Spurs is still looking for a first win as Manager Roberto De Zerbi’s club are home to Coventry on Monday. The Sky Blues are suddenly on a two-match winning run as they look to extend Spurs’ misery. Coventry pummeled Newcastle last week, raising questions about new Magpie manager Matthias Jaissle, whose side has been beaten 4-1 in two of its last three matches. Aston Villa visits St. James Park Saturday.
Chelsea seemed rejuvenated by the international break when the Blues rolled to an easy 5-1 win over Bournemouth. A tougher test awaits at Everton this weekend with David Moyes working wonders with his Toffee squad to date. Everton has not lost yet this season despite ownership having shortchanged the club in the recent transfer window and the club now being openly proclaimed for sale by The Friedkin Group. The Toffees are currently fifth in the table, well beyond where anyone would expect them to be right now. Lacking in attacking flair, Moyes has his thin squad playing disciplined football as no one has conceded fewer goals than the Toffees this season.
Bournemouth will try to pick up the pieces when they return home to Vitality Stadium after being non-competitive away at Stamford Bridge last week. Sunderland will be in town trying to snap a three-match losing run which has landed the Black Cats just a point above currently relegation bound opponent Bournemouth. Sunderland’s poor streak is just a bit misleading, of course, as the losses came against the top three teams in the table. Bournemouth presents a much tastier opportunity for the Cats.
A good start to the season has placed newly promoted Hull six points above the relegation line as the Tigers travel to London to face Fulham on Saturday. The Cottagers are reeling at the bottom of the table with Manager Alvaro Arbeloa feeling the heat. A loss to Hull and then Coventry the following week would almost assuredly put a premature end to the Spaniard’s debut Premier League season.
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