Premier League Predictions: Arsenal and Chelsea get back on track, Man United frustrated while City survive Liverpool storm

After the mother of all international breaks, during which time the Premier League landscape has changed enormously, the on-field action finally returns this weekend.

The game of round six comes at Anfield with disgraced Manchester City travelling to the team that has arguably suffered most from their financial chicanery, Liverpool.

The champions kick-start the programme buoyed by news of Mikel Arteta’s lucrative new contract.

SATURDAY

Arsenal v Leeds (12.30pm)
It must have felt a long three weeks for Arteta, Arsenal’s obsessive manager pouring over every detail of their 3-0 hammering at Brighton before the break. That result came from nowhere with the Gunners seemingly carrying on this season as they finished the last with four successive victories. Leeds could be on the receiving end, although this is a very different outfit to the one that looked like rabbits in the headlights on their first away game since promotion last season. On that occasion, Arsenal romped to a 5-0 win. It should be much closer this time.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Leeds

Aston Villa v Brentford (3pm)
It was perhaps inevitable that Villa would start slowly given the player trading that took place over the summer. Unai Emery has had to rebuild but the canny Spaniard is starting to get results with his side winning three of their last four in all competitions. They still sit in the lower reaches of the table and this is certainly not a routine assignment against a Brentford team that head to Villa Park unbeaten and still revelling in their 3-0 win over local rivals Chelsea last time out. Brentford have already secured draws on the road at Bournemouth and Leeds and we fancy another one here.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-2 Brentford

Chelsea v Bournemouth (3pm)
Xabi Alonso may have signed a four-year contract in May but Chelsea’s ownership are not exactly renown for their patience. The big-spending Blues have gone three league games without a win and the manner of their capitulation at the Gtech Community Stadium would not have gone unnoticed. For now Alonso remains on solid-ish ground but another setback against winless Bournemouth would crank up the pressure on the former Real Madrid boss. Expectations are different at Bournemouth but their new head coach Marco Rose could also do with three points to prove he is an able replacement for Andoni Iraola.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth

Ipswich v Fulham (3pm)
Alonso does not have to look far to find someone who knows what he is going through. His close friend Alvaro Arbeloa is experiencing similar issues down the road at Fulham and this already looks a high-pressure game. Fulham have yet to win – in mitigation, they have had a difficult set of fixtures with which to start the season – and that record has to change sooner rather than later. A trip to Portman Road to face newly promoted Ipswich presents opportunity but also jeopardy. The Tractor Boys are ticking over quite nicely, sitting in mid-table with two wins so far. Another here would see them move into the top 10 and leave Arbeloa looking over his shoulder.
Ipswich 2-1 Fulham

Sunderland v Brighton (3pm)
Brighton would have rued the timing of the international break. They closed the first section of the season with a 5-0 win at Coventry and a 3-0 demolition of champions Arsenal. They now have to rediscover that groove when they head to the Stadium of Light. It has been a funny start for Sunderland. Dismissed as relegation fodder by most pundits, they have largely performed well but not got the results to back it up. Regis Le Bris’ men should have won at Brentford and could have got at least a draw at Manchester City were it not for a couple of contentious refereeing decisions. They need to start winning games before embarking on a hectic schedule in domestic and European competition.
Prediction: Sunderland 2-2 Brighton

Manchester United v Tottenham (5.30pm)
According to transfermarkt these two squads have a combined worth of almost £1.5billion and yet they have just one Premier League win between them. It is scant return for year on year of heavy investment. There have been flickers of progress, United brushing Ipswich aside while Spurs have kept clean sheets in two of their last three league games. We’re still clutching at straws, though. These two clubs ought to be doing an awful lot better. A draw here helps neither, so…
Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Tottenham

SUNDAY

Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest (2pm)
Palace fans pining for the return of Oliver Glasner will get their wish this Sunday, in a way. The Austrian, who led the Eagles to three trophies in his short time in South London, will stride down the touchline at Selhurst Park as Nottingham Forest boss looking to add to successor Pierre Sage’s problems. Sage is struggling to assert his influence over the Palace squad and one win from five games is testament to that. Glasner has not exactly torn it up at Forest either. Six of the previous seven games between these two have ended in a draw.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 0-0 Nottingham Forest

Hull v Everton (2pm)
Hull’s unbeaten return to the top flight ended at Newcastle last time out but the Tigers’ performance deserved more and offered another indication they may be here to stay. Their style is pragmatic but gets results, a point you could also make about Everton. The Toffees will never win awards for style under David Moyes but the Scot has turned them into top-half contenders having taken over a team more used to fighting relegation. This is unlikely to be one for the purists.
Prediction: Hull 0-1 Everton

Liverpool v Manchester City (4.30pm)
If you had to pick one ground Manchester City would have chosen to avoid this weekend it would be Anfield. The verdict by the Independent Commission that City were guilty of over 100 financial breaches – the club have appealed and deny any wrongdoing – did not go down well on Merseyside and we will never know what Liverpool would have won had it been a level playing field. That has, inevitably, created a hostility that will be in full force when Enzo Maresca and his players, who are all innocent parties to the misdemeanours, rock up at the weekend. If City can block out the noise then they ought to be good enough to beat a Liverpool team still finding their feet under Iraola. It’s a big if…
Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City

MONDAY

Coventry v Newcastle (8pm)
Coventry’s win at Nottingham Forest before the international break was their first in the Premier League for 25 years but Frank Lampard’s overriding emotion must have been relief more than elation. His team had not looked equipped for top-flight football until their trip to the City Ground and the challenge now is to maintain that level against a Newcastle side that have started solidly. Dig deeper, though, and the underlying metrics suggest Matthias Jaissle still has plenty to do.
Prediction: Coventry 2-1 Newcastle

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