The Premier League returns once again this weekend after an international break filled with World Cup qualifiers. This weekend showcases a rousing set of fixtures featuring everyone’s favourite players. The gameweek kicks off with Arsenal hosting Nottingham Forest and concludes with the Manchester Derby at the Etihad.
5. Garnacho to shine at Stamford Bridge?
Alejandro Garnacho finally earned his move from Manchester United after joining the “bomb squad” under Ruben Amorim. He will be eager to prove himself early on under Enzo Maresca, and Chelsea facing Brentford may be the perfect test.
There’s an abundance of healthy competition at the wing positions, so he cannot expect just to walk into the starting XI. The Argentinian winger lacks plenty of match fitness, having last featured in Manchester United’s defeat in the Europa League final.
4. How will Newcastle United enjoy life after Alexander Isak’s record-breaking departure?
After a long and drama-filled transfer saga, Alexander Isak finally made his move to Liverpool for a whopping £125 million, the Premier League’s record transfer. Isak scored 23 goals in the league last season and even brought home the EFL Cup.
Newcastle United have replaced Isak by bringing in two new main men up front, Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa. Yoane Wissa, Newcastle’s new No. 9, has Premier League experience, scoring 19 goals in the league last season for Brentford.
It will be interesting to see how Eddie Howe fits the pair into his lineup and whether one of them begins on the bench. Anthony Gordon’s suspension means that most likely at least one of them will make their first start for Newcastle as they face Wolves on Saturday.
3. Will Alexander Isak make his debut for Liverpool?
The Premier League champions paid a record transfer fee to acquire the Swede’s services at Anfield. Alexander Isak’s addition to Liverpool’s frontline alongside Mohamed Salah, Wirtz, and Ekitike will strike fear into every Premier League opposition and their supporters.
Isak, however, missed the entirety of Newcastle United’s pre-season and the opening Premier League fixtures as a sign of protest to earn his move. The Swedish striker featured as an unused substitute against Slovenia but earned some minutes under his belt in a 2-0 loss to Kosovo. It is highly unlikely that Isak will start for Liverpool until he is fully up to speed; however, he may come off the bench against Burnley on Sunday.
2. Ange Postecoglou’s return to the Premier League
Ange Postecoglou is set to start life with Nottingham Forest following Nuno Espirito Santo’s departure. Nuno’s departure did not come as a shock to many after he publicly stated that his relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis had broken down in recent months. However, Ange Postecoglou being named as his replacement will leave many stunned.
Nuno is a cautious coach and would tweak the system as Nottingham Forest faced a stronger opposition. He built his team upon his strong defensive structure, a low block combined with rapid counterattacks.
Ange, on the other hand, prefers to play much braver football, famous for deploying a high defensive line. Ange faces a difficult test this weekend, requiring his side to gear up to Ange-ball quickly. Arsenal, as his first test, seems cruel considering he never won a north London derby while in charge at Tottenham.
1. The Manchester Derby
Manchester City are set to host their local rivals, Manchester United, to round up the Premier League weekend. Neither side will be particularly happy with their start to the 2025/26 season. Despite Manchester City’s dominant victory over Wolves, they’ve since endured back-to-back defeats against Tottenham and Brighton. Manchester United won their first game of the season with a close 3-2 victory over Burnley last time out.
However, they’ve had a shocking start to the season, getting knocked out in Round 2 of the EFL Cup to a League Two side, Grimsby Town, the most embarrassing defeat in the club’s history.
Both the managers, Pep Guardiola and Ruben Amorim, are under pressure entering the 197th Manchester Derby. The two sides face similar issues ahead of their clash.
Manchester City have been hit with injury woes as Omar Marmoush joins Rayan Cherki, Savinho, and Phil Foden in the list of players unlikely to feature on Sunday. Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount are injury concerns for the Red Devils, picking up injuries as they faced Burnley last time out.
Conclusion
As the season continues to unfold, the large list of headlines and subplots continues to dig deeper. Teams continue striving to perform in the league, and the drama follows, making every game week just as exciting as the next.
With title contenders looking to maintain momentum, underdogs eager to spring surprises, and players chasing individual milestones, the weekend’s fixtures offer narratives that stretch far beyond the scoreline.
Written by: Thillai Ritvik
