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We are two games into the new Premier League season and have already been reminded of why it is called the best league in the world. The action has been relentless, with lots of great games having already taken place. By now, it is slightly easier to figure out how the season may pan out as we have an indicator of how each team has started the season.
For most of the big clubs, the 2018-19 Premier League season has gone off to a perfect start. However, the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United have struggled in places and will have to chase from the get-go. Among the other sides to gain two wins out of two are Watford and Bournemouth, both of which have impressed so far.
The coming round of games will be an opportunity to make things right and forget about any slip-ups in the opening two games for some teams, while others will want to build on the good starts they have had. Only a handful of sides will get what they want out of this weekend, while the rest will have to lick their wounds, get back up and move on.
Among the top games of the weekend are Manchester United vs Tottenham, Arsenal vs West Ham and Newcastle vs Chelsea. Here are some predictions for what might happen in these games, and a few others:
#5 Manchester City and Liverpool will continue their hot starts
Liverpool and Manchester City are likely to battle for the title this season with both having started off their campaigns exceptionally. Last season's runaway champions have won their opening two games, scoring eight goals in the process. Similarly, the Reds also have six points. They are yet to concede a goal this season after spending heavily on new goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Both Man City and Liverpool should keep their perfect record intact when they face Wolves and Brighton respectively. Wolves have signed a whole team of new players on their return to top flight football, but it will take time for the pieces to come together. The rampant Citizens will look to get another big win at the Molineux.
The revitalised Reds have not been at their sharpest so far this season, but are sitting pretty with maximum points. They will host a Brighton side coming off a great victory over Manchester United, but facing Liverpool at Anfield is a much bigger ask. They will have last season's final day lingering in their minds, as the Reds beat them 4-0 to end the league season on a high.
#4 Arsenal will be up and running
Arsenal faced and lost to Manchester City and Chelsea in their first two games of this new era at the club, a tough ask for manager Unai Emery. A spirited fightback at Stamford Bridge was dampened by some terrible defending and failure to covert some golden opportunities. However, the signs are there for the Gunners to come together.
They will face West Ham United, who also have a new manager and have lost their first two games of the season. Manuel Pellegrini has brought in a lot of new faces and like Wolves, it will take time to start working. They will need to improve defensively, which caused their downfall against Liverpool and Bournemouth.
Both of these sides play a high line but it will suit Arsenal more in this game, despite the attacking threats possessed by the Hammers. The Emirates will likely be buzzing for this one as Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan and the rest will want to get the Gunners off the mark. This is the game that should ideally kickstart Arsenal's season.
#3 Fulham will beat Burnley
Just like Arsenal and West Ham, Fulham has also lost their opening two games. Another team that has invested heavily in the transfer market, the Premier League new boys will want to get their first points in before the pressure begins to mount. They certainly have the players required to thrive in this environment and have been handed a boost for the weekend.
Their opponents, Burnley are currently focusing on getting into the Europa League group stages. They lost 3-1 away at Olympiakos in the first leg of their play-off and will likely rest a couple of key players for the second leg. This will play into Fulham's hands who should be able to take advantage of this situation and get their first win of the season at Craven Cottage.
Burnley, especially if they do progress in Europe, are set to have a difficult season as they will try to juggle more competitions with the squad they have. Also, expectations will be heightened after their impressive seventh-place finish last season.
A disappointing start to the league season, one riddled with extra European games in between, will likely continue this week as they prepare for their biggest game in a long, long time on Thursday.
#2 Newcastle will frustrate Chelsea
Chelsea under Maurizio Sarri have looked pretty good so far in their opening two games, earning six points and scoring six goals in the process. The Blues will want to build on this good start but will face a familiar foe in Newcastle United on Sunday. They have won once at St James' Park since 2009. It certainly has been a bogey ground for the current FA Cup holders.
The Magpies have not exactly looked phenomenal this season, but a good performance on the opening day against Tottenham shows that they still have a lot of heart. After missing a last-minute penalty at Cardiff last week, Rafa Benitez's men will want to mend things. They should be pretty confident of doing so since they did beat Chelsea 3-0 on the final day of last season.
As Eden Hazard nears full fitness, the Blues will likely keep the same team that beat Arsenal 3-2. But Newcastle will likely be wary of the threats, as they have been in the past. Benitez himself possesses a more than decent record against Chelsea, beating them in two separate Champions League semi-finals with Liverpool.
His, and Newcastle's, good luck against the Londoners may very well continue this weekend.
#1 Man United will get a positive result on Monday night
Manchester United are in a dire state. The players are unmotivated, the manager seems flustered and the ownership situation is not doing anyone any favours. It is the age-old problem of Jose Mourinho in his third season at a football club, a problem which has plagued the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid before.
They will welcome Tottenham Hotspur who, like most other big teams, have two wins from two. Add in the fact that Harry Kane has broken his August curse and it all seems really threatening for the Red Devils. But that is where Jose Mourinho thrives. When his team is pinned back, they are seemingly at their best.
Despite all of Mourinho's struggles, his record against the top teams, especially at home, is outstanding. Even when his team is in a mess, they come away with big wins against their rivals.
That is what he does. And for that reason, Man United will come out of their game against Spurs with either a point or three. They will make up the ground and give the Old Trafford faithful some renewed hope, no matter how short-lived it turns out to be.
