The Premier League returns this weekend following the September international break.
The majority of clubs in the top flight are preparing for their fifth round of domestic fixtures, and there are some interesting matches taking place over this weekend.
Manchester United take on Brighton this Saturday, while Manchester City travel to West Ham United. Arsenal, meanwhile, play Everton away on Sunday.
Teams have now registered their 25-man squads for the 2023-24 campaign.
Saturday, September 16 (12.30pm BST)
Wolves team news: Joe Hodge was struggling with injury before the international break and his Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Jim Crawford said the midfielder would be out for four weeks at the end of last month.
Liverpool team news: Thiago had yet to play for Liverpool before the international break, while Trent Alexander-Arnold missed England duty with a hamstring injury. Ibrahima Konate also missed Liverpool’s last two league games through injury. Virgil van Dijk is suspended.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Paul Tierney VAR)
Opta omen: Liverpool have won 12 of the last 13 meetings between these two sides — but the exception was a 3-0 win for Wolves in this fixture last season.
Saturday, September 16 (3PM BST)
Aston Villa team news: Diego Carlos went off injured against Liverpool before the international break, while Alex Moreno was described as “close” to a return last month. Tim Iroegbunam was working alone before that Liverpool game and Jacob Ramsey is still working his way back from an injury sustained with the England Under-21 side in the summer. Emi Buendia and Tyrone Mings are long-term absentees.
Crystal Palace team news: Michael Olise and Matheus Franca are dealing with longer-term issues, while Marc Guehi was withdrawn at half-time of England’s friendly win over Scotland earlier this week after “feeling something”.
Referee: Darren England (Robert Jones VAR)
Opta omen: Palace have scored just five goals in 11 matches at Villa Park — and never more than once in a game.
Saturday, September 16 (3PM BST)
Fulham team news: Alex Iwobi, Sasa Lukic and Tom Cairney are doubts after sustaining injuries before the international break. Joao Palhinha could return after missing the defeat at Manchester City after his deadline-day Bayern Munich move fell through.
Luton team news: Dan Potts and Jordan Clark are out long-term. Gabe Osho is also a doubt. Captain Tom Lockyer is back in contention after recovering from an injury that made him miss his side’s defeat to West Ham United as is Alfie Doughty who has recovered from his Achilles injury. Issa Kabore, Pelly Mpanzu, and Amari’i Bell are all set to be assessed before the trip to Craven Cottage on Saturday.
Referee: Michael Salisbury (David Coote VAR)
Opta omen: Fulham have faced more shots on target (33) and allowed a higher expected goals total (12.1) than any side in the Premier League so far.
Manchester United vs Brighton
Saturday, September 16 (3PM BST)
Manchester United team news: Luke Shaw, Amad, Tom Heaton, Kobbie Mainoo, Raphael Varane and Tyrell Malacia are out. There’s a chance Mason Mount could return, as could Lisandro Martinez. Sofyan Amrabat could make his United debut, while Antony has been suspended and remains in Brazil. Jadon Sancho is out of contention after the club confirmed in a statement that: “Sancho will remain on a personal training programme away from the first-team group, pending resolution of a squad discipline issue.”
Brighton team news: Julio Enciso is out long-term, while Jakub Moder is still recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Danny Welbeck is expected to be fine to face his former club and there is hope Evan Ferguson is fit too.
Referee: Jarred Gillet (Chris Kavanagh VAR)
Opta omen: Brighton have won their last three league games against Manchester United, having only been victorious three times in the previous 17 matches.
Mason Mount has missed the last two Manchester United matches with a hamstring injury (Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Saturday, September 16 (3PM BST)
Tottenham team news: Rodrigo Bentancur, Alfie Whiteman, Ryan Sessegnon and Bryan Gil are out. Giovani Lo Celso was struggling with injury before the international break.
Sheffield United team news: George Baldock, John Egan and Will Osula are set to miss out with injuries sustained on international duty. Max Lowe, James McAtee, Daniel Jebbison, Ben Osborn, John Fleck and Rhian Brewster are also out. Tom Davies is close to a return, with manager Paul Heckingbottom confirming “he’s at the point where he needs game time to get match fit”. Rhys Norrington-Davies and Yasser Larouci are doubts. Anel Ahmedhodzic is available following a hamstring injury.
Referee: Peter Bankes (Graham Scott VAR)
Opta omen: Sheffield United have won just once in their last nine league games away at Spurs, the last coming in November 1991.
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West Ham United vs Manchester City
Saturday, September 16 (3PM BST)
West Ham team news: Vladimir Coufal is a possible injury doubt.
Manchester City team news: John Stones, Mateo Kovacic and Jack Grealish are injury doubts, while Kevin De Bruyne is months from a return.
Referee: Andy Madley (Darren Bond VAR)
Opta omen: Having won 10 points, this is West Ham’s joint-best start to a Premier League campaign after four games, along with 1999-2000 under Harry Redknapp.
Saturday, September 16 (5.30PM BST)
Newcastle team news: Joe Willock is out, while Emil Krafth, Javier Manquillo, Sven Botman, Elliot Anderson are Sandro Tonali are all doubts.
Brentford team news: Mikkel Damsgaard is a fitness doubt, while Shandon Baptiste and Josh Dasilva are long-term absentees. Neal Maupay will be included in the travelling squad. Ivan Toney remains suspended by the FA.
Referee: Craig Pawson (John Brooks VAR)
Opta omen: Newcastle have since kept just two clean sheets from 22 matches while Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo has scored seven goals in his last seven league games.
Sunday, September 17 (2pm BST)
Bournemouth team news: Alex Scott is still injured after signing from Bristol City in the summer, as is Tyler Adams who joined from Leeds. Dango Ouattara is a doubt, while Ryan Fredericks and Emiliano Marcondes have long-term injuries.
Chelsea team news: Wesley Fofana, Christopher Nkunku, Marcus Bettinelli, Carney Chukwuemeka, Romeo Lavia and Reece James are all out. Defenders Benoit Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah could return, while Armando Broja has been training after his ACL injury last season. Malang Sarr was left out of Chelsea’s Premier League squad.
Referee: David Coote (Andy Madley VAR)
Opta omen: Bournemouth are currently winless in eight league matches while Chelsea have just two wins from their last 16 games.
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Everton vs Arsenal
Sunday, September 17 (4.30pm BST)
Everton team news: Seamus Coleman and Dele Alli are out. Andre Gomes, Jack Harrison, Jarrad Branthwaite, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, James Tarkowski, Michael Keane and Lewis Dobbin are doubtful.
Arsenal team news: Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber and Mohamed Elneny are out.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Stuart Attwell VAR)
Opta omen: Everton are unbeaten in their last five home games against Arsenal, winning four times (including the last three in a row) and drawing once.
Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber sustained an ACL injury on the opening day of this season (Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Monday, September 18 (7:45pm)
Nottingham Forest team news: Wayne Hennessey and Danilo are doubts. Ethan Horvath, Harry Arter, Emmanuel Dennis, Jonjo Shelvey, and Giulian Biancone were all left out of Forest’s 25-man Premier League squad.
Burnley team news: Vitinho and Aaron Ramsey are doubts, while Michael Obafemi and Hjalmar Ekdal are likely ruled out. Anass Zaroury is suspended and Darko Churlinov was not included in Burnley’s Premier League squad.
Referee: Robert Jones (Darren England VAR)
Opta omen: Forest have scored in each of their last 11 league matches while Burnley have conceded 11 goals in their three defeats this season.
(Top photos: Getty Images)
