Manchester City have won eight of their last 10 Premier League home games
West Ham have begun two of the last five campaigns with back-to-back defeats
Manchester United have won on their last eight visits to Craven Cottage
The new Premier League season began with a bang and contained all the thrills and spills you would expect last week, with controversy right up until the end of Monday night’s match between Leeds and Everton.
Refereeing decisions and managerial missteps will come under the microscope again this weekend when all 20 teams are in action once more.
With heavyweight clashes and potential banana skins scattered across the 10 fixtures, we preview them all and offer our correct-score predictions.
West Ham vs Chelsea (Friday, 8pm)
Chelsea travel across London to face a West Ham side that put in a pretty limp display at Sunderland last Saturday.
The Hammers have won four of their last eight home Premier League games against Chelsea, but it is hard to envisage Graham Potter’s side hurting the Club World Cup winners on the evidence of last week.
The Blues had 19 shots without scoring against Crystal Palace, mostly from outside the box, but should be sharper and more clinical for that run-out after a truncated pre-season.
Score prediction: West Ham 0-2 Chelsea
Manchester City vs Tottenham (Saturday, 12.30pm)
Pep Guardiola’s side purred for most of their emphatic win at Molineux last Saturday and will be looking to reach those heights again when Thomas Frank brings his Tottenham side to Manchester.
The Dane led Brentford to a famous victory at City’s home just before the last World Cup, but Erling Haaland and co will be fully focused on getting three points against Spurs.
Looking for consecutive wins away at Man City for the first time since May 2010, Tottenham will discover that the Etihad is a fortress.
Score prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Tottenham
Bournemouth vs Wolves (Saturday, 3pm)
Antoine Semenyo’s Anfield brace has made him the talk of the south coast, and Bournemouth will fancy their chances against a Wolves side that looked disjointed in their opener.
With the visitors still adapting to life without Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha, the Cherries could edge a scrappy affair.
Score prediction: Bournemouth 2-1 Wolves
Brentford vs Aston Villa (Saturday, 3pm)
The Bees are winless in their last six league games against Aston Villa, a statistic that will not generate any much-needed optimism at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Unai Emery’s side rolled their sleeves up after Ezri Konsa’s red card to hold on for a home point against Newcastle while Keith Andrews’ team lacked inspiration in a 3-1 City Ground defeat.
Yoane Wissa looks unlikely to play again and, in further bad news for the Bees, Ollie Watkins is due a goal as he looks to score at his former home for a third consecutive campaign.
Score prediction: Brentford 0-2 Aston Villa
Burnley vs Sunderland (Saturday, 3pm)
Wilson Isidor probably still has nightmares about his last trip to Turf Moor when he missed two identical penalties in a 0-0 January stalemate.
Dan Ballard was the Black Cats’ standout performer against West Ham and Sunderland’s defensive shape looks Premier League-ready. Burnley, meanwhile, are still searching for rhythm after a relatively quiet summer transfer window.
Score prediction: Burnley 0-0 Sunderland
Arsenal vs Leeds (Saturday, 5.30pm)
Arsenal fans have stopped questioning the board’s willingness to end their 21-year title drought with the move for Eberechi Eze being another indicator of their ambition.
Mikel Arteta knows nothing but a win will do against newly-promoted Leeds, who showed plenty of early promise against Everton on Monday.
A goal to get Viktor Gyokeres up and running would be welcome, but the Gunners have enough defensive steel and set-piece proficiency to earn a more comfortable win than last week’s at Old Trafford.
Score prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Leeds
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest (Sunday, 2pm)
Boardroom beefs between two clubs embarking on European adventures this term have added some extra spice to this fixture.
Palace would win if the game was at Wembley with a trophy on the line, but Forest are a bogey side that they have not beaten in 10 previous Premier League meetings.
Score prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Everton vs Brighton (Sunday, 2pm)
Everton fans will flock to Hill Dickinson Stadium for a tricky test against analytics-loving Brighton.
The home side has not won any of the last nine matches between these clubs and Everton could be pining for the old Goodison atmosphere if the Seagulls set their stall out to be awkward.
A draw looks likely in this evenly-matched contest.
Score prediction: Everton 1-1 Brighton
Fulham vs Manchester United (Sunday, 4.30pm)
Fulham will be buoyed by their opening-day draw at the Amex Stadium and United should be encouraged by the positive nature of their ultimately fruitless performance against Arsenal.
Ruben Amorim’s men scrapped out a 1-0 win in the dark, depths of their worst-ever Premier League campaign last January and should have what it takes to extend their eight-match winning streak at Craven Cottage.
Score prediction: Fulham 1-2 Manchester United
Newcastle vs Liverpool (Monday, 8pm)
The pick of the Week 2 fixtures comes last of all and it is another clash between clubs at loggerheads.
Newcastle are refusing to bend to the will of Liverpool and Alexander Isak, but may soon have to face reality over the situation.
Eddie Howe’s side can stop the Merseysiders from having their cake and eating it by winning the midfield battle at a febrile St James’ Park.
Score prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool
