Premier League Weekend Preview: Arsenal Eyeing More Wins, Manchester United Face Tough Draw

Friday: Everton v Coventry City (midnight)

Everton enter this fixture having secured both the League Cup and Premier League double over Newcastle United. This victory ended a three-game winless streak for Newcastle, leaving Everton in seventh place in the table. Coventry, meanwhile, achieved their third win of the season with a comfortable 3-1 victory at home against Sunderland, moving Frank Lampard's side two points clear of the relegation zone.

Prediction: Everton 2 Coventry 1

Champions League Update: Real Madrid secured a vital result thanks to Valverde, while Como achieved a remarkable nine-goal victory against Lens.

Saturday: Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur (4.30pm)

Leeds' recent 2-0 loss at Bournemouth means the Yorkshire club has now gone five league games without a win, scoring only twice in that period, and has dropped into the bottom half of the table. Tottenham's resurgence continues with their third consecutive victory, a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace last week, which has propelled them above Leeds into ninth place.

Prediction: Leeds 0 Tottenham 2

Arsenal v Hull City (7pm)

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the table to three points following their fourth successive victory, a hard-fought 1-0 win away at Liverpool. The Gunners have maintained an impressive defensive record, securing their sixth clean sheet in 10 games and conceding only five goals. Their midweek Champions League performance saw them secure a 2-1 away win against Slavia Prague. Hull City remain in mid-table but have not secured a win since August 29, enduring a seven-game streak with five draws and two losses. Their away form has also been a concern, with only one win on the road this season.

Prediction: Arsenal 3 Hull 0

Fulham v Newcastle United (7pm)

After a challenging start to the season, Fulham have improved significantly, losing only once in their last six matches. However, they missed the opportunity for a third consecutive win last week after drawing with Aston Villa. The Cottagers currently sit on nine points, two clear of the relegation zone. Newcastle faced criticism from their supporters following a 1-0 home defeat to Everton on Monday night, marking their fourth loss in five games. This followed a 3-1 League Cup exit against the same opposition just four days prior. They are currently two points and two places above Fulham in the league standings.

Prediction: Fulham 2 Newcastle 1

Nottingham Forest v Manchester City (9.30pm)

Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner acknowledged that his position might be under threat following their recent defeat at Brentford. His team has managed to secure only one point from the last 15 available, leaving them second-bottom in the table, one point above Sunderland. Manchester City, after an initial seven wins out of seven, have now suffered two consecutive league defeats, at Aston Villa and at home to Brighton, falling three points behind leaders Arsenal. Their Champions League fixture against RB Leipzig saw them secure a 3-2 victory.

Prediction: Forest 1 Man City 3

Sunday: Brighton v Brentford (6pm)

Brighton's impressive 1-0 victory at Manchester City, their first league win at the Etihad Stadium in 16 attempts, has moved them to within two points of second place. They have won five of their last six league games and boast the league's highest goal tally with 24. Brentford are also performing well, sitting in sixth place with only one league defeat this season, though they have drawn five of their nine games. They secured a 2-0 win against Forest last weekend, and all four of their away league fixtures so far have ended in draws.

Prediction: Brighton 2 Brentford 0

Crystal Palace v Liverpool (6pm)

Crystal Palace are seeking to avoid a fourth consecutive league defeat, a run that has placed them third from bottom and highlighted their defensive struggles, having conceded 21 goals. Liverpool suffered a narrow home defeat to Arsenal last week, failing to register a shot on target despite 17 attempts. Their midweek Champions League match against Fenerbahce resulted in a 3-2 loss in Istanbul.

Prediction: Palace 0 Liverpool 2

Ipswich Town v Bournemouth (6pm)

Ipswich Town's 2-2 draw at Hull means they have won only once in their last five matches, placing them in 14th position, level on points with three other teams. Bournemouth secured their third successive league win by defeating Leeds 2-0, and they are now one point ahead of Ipswich.

Prediction: Ipswich 1 Bournemouth 2

Sunderland v Chelsea (6pm)

Sunderland's poor league form continued with a defeat away to Coventry, leaving them at the bottom of the table with six losses in nine matches. Chelsea have won three of their last four games, including a victory over Manchester United last weekend, moving Xabi Alonso's team up to fourth place, three points behind third-placed Brighton.

Prediction: Sunderland 1 Chelsea 3

Manchester United v Aston Villa (8.30pm)

Manchester United ended a nine-game winless streak in all competitions with a dramatic comeback victory at home against Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday. Domestically, however, they have secured only one win in their last nine matches, placing them outside the relegation zone solely on goal difference. Aston Villa are currently on a five-game unbeaten run in the league, with three wins and two draws. Their current 10th-place standing is attributed to a slow start to the season. Unai Emery's side suffered a 3-0 defeat against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Prediction: Man United 2 Villa 2