'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Domestic action returns at last after the international break and all eyes will be on the Premier League, with one of the biggest clashes of the season set to take place when Chelsea host Manchester United. However, there are plenty of other telling storylines as well and on that note, here are 3 things to look out for this weekend in the Premier League:
Are Chelsea facing United at a bad time?
After 45 minutes at Old Trafford two weeks ago, Utd fans would have been dreading the upcoming visit to Chelsea. Trailing 2-0 to a Newcastle team languishing at the bottom of the table, they were being outplayed - even outclassed - and were fortunate not to be further behind at the break.
A stirring second-half comeback, a last-minute headed winner by Alexis Sanchez and 3 crucial points dramatically changed the mood and expectations among the Old Trafford faithful. It was almost like old times to see a swarming second-half comeback and a goal scored in 'Fergie time'.
Undoubtedly that result, and the nature of the victory, will have given huge confidence and momentum to a team that previously appeared to be playing without conviction, coherence or structure.
It will, therefore, be of huge significance for the rest of the PL season to see if this was genuinely a turning point for United, or whether it proves to be only a temporary upward blip. Chelsea have been hugely impressive to date this year, have out-performed United in every metric and, in Eden Hazard, have the outstanding player of the season so far.
The bookies have Chelsea as big favourites, but it just might be that United's regained confidence and Mourinho's tactical nous could provide fertile ground for a slight upset. So fine are the margins that a United win will see them talked of as outside title contenders. Conversely, a 4th league defeat will surely end their title aspirations - even at this early stage of the season.
Can Huddersfield surprise jaded Liverpool?
This match should be a no-brainer. Liverpool have had one of their best ever starts to a PL season and sit level on points with City and Chelsea at the top of the table. By contrast, Huddersfield sit third from bottom, already 17 points behind Saturday's opponents.
Huddersfield have only scored 4 goals all season, while Liverpool have conceded just 3. Liverpool have scored 15 goals and Huddersfield have conceded 17. Liverpool are 7 points better off than at this time last season and Huddersfield are 6 points worse off.
Despite all this, the reality is that Liverpool have not actually played that well this season and have been largely dependent on strong defensive performances to eke out valuable points. They've also ridden their luck at times (look no further than Mahrez's late penalty miss in the top of the table clash with City and Sturridge's last-minute wonder goal to equalise against Chelsea). The front three are so far failing to gel in the manner that terrorised opposition defences last year.
Furthermore, Klopp's criticism of the excessive demands of international football came back to bite him this week. Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Naby Keita and Virgil Van Dijk have all returned nursing injuries. It is possible that several of these players could be missing from tomorrow's starting line-up.
Of course, Liverpool are rightfully huge favourites for this match. But they have looked jaded, have failed to convince and have ridden their luck at times. These are the types of matches that Liverpool have occasionally struggled in (think Swansea last year when they lost 1-0 the week after beating Man City).
In short, is it just possible that the stars are aligned for a surprise result in this match also?
Could City have 30 shots against Burnley?
After a terrible start to the season, Burnley have regained their normal organisation, fight and determination under the admirable Sean Dyche. Two successive league victories have pulled them up into the middle of the table and it is likely that they will not move far from there by the end of the season.
After exceeding expectations by qualifying for the Europa League last year, it seems Burnley have now settled into a role where they are considered a comfortable mid-table club and credit is due to them for this.
But an interesting fact about Burnley - some of their underlying performance metrics are terrible. They concede huge amounts of shots while having relatively few themselves. And, looking at the 'expected goals' metric suggests that last year they actually won 14 points more than they should have had other teams taken their chances against them.
City, of course, operate at the other end of the spectrum. They dominate possession, territory and chances against all opposition. But given the respective styles of the two teams, and the underlying statistics, it is quite possible that tomorrow's match could resemble shooting practice for the PL champions. City have averaged around 22 shots per match this season while Burnley have conceded 20 shots per game. This surely represents a perfect storm - a team who shoot for fun, and another who are content to let the opposition take a lot of shots, confident in their ability to control where those shots are taken from.
It doesn't happen too often, but this could well be a match were one team has around 30 shots at goal - and it won't be Burnley.
