Liverpool vs Manchester City is the standout fixture on a tantalising weekend of Premier League action. Enock Sakyi marks your card.
Brentford vs Brighton, Friday 8pm
When a team is on the end of a bit of a hiding there is a theory that their next game will be all about being defensively secure.
Brentford can be forgiven for their bad day at the office at Newcastle, where individual errors were the catalyst for the 5-1 defeat rather than collective issues.
Thomas Frank will be demanding safety-first defending with Brighton in town and there is a fair chance they can restrict the Seagulls, who remain very capable of throwing in a wasteful attacking performance despite their strong start to the season.
They created little - 0.72 worth of expected goals - against Tottenham as some old habits of poor finishing and making too many passes crept into their game
As Brighton are always reliable as a defensive unit, proven by their defensive metrics since the start of last season that have them as the fifth best defence in the Premier League, I can foresee a very cagey, low-scoring encounter where the 0-0 is a runner.
SCORE PREDICTION: Brentford 0-0 Brighton
Leicester vs Crystal Palace, Saturday 12.30pm
Leicester are sneaky, sneaky sausages, convincing us they were back on the straight and narrow with their 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
After falling behind with 20 minutes to go at Bournemouth, Brendan Rodgers' side had one measly shot at goal.
That lack of intensity and fight, added to an inability to defend their goal when put under any significant pressure, only further enhances the case for swerving them at all costs this weekend in a game they are favourites to win.
If Palace can defend properly and quell the threat of James Maddison and Harvey Barnes it is very likely their attack will break through at various points against a defence that has now shipped 24 goals this season.
SCORE PREDICTION: Leicester 1-2 Crystal Palace
Fulham vs Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm
For as long as Aleksandar Mitrovic remains sidelined, I'm happy to oppose Fulham based on their plummeting defensive numbers that at the current rate is going to require them to score at least two, maybe three goals to win a Premier League match.
I'm not convinced Fulham's defence is up to Premier League standard despite a bold start to life back at the top table. They have now shipped at least two goals in eight of their 10 games across all competitions this season, including against Crawley Town in the Carabao Cup.
Their expected goals against data in the Premier League is also officially the worst in the league now (17.43), showcasing their worrying ability to afford opponents high-probability chances.
With such welcoming defending on show from Fulham, my instincts are taking me to the opposition goalscorer markets, especially the central striker.
And despite Dominic Solanke scoring just once in his last nine appearances, he is certainly going to carry my money this weekend.
Fulham are vulnerable through the heart of their defence. Just look at the list of strikers to have notched against them this season: Gianluca Scamacca, Michail Antonio, Callum Wilson, Taiwo Awoniyi, Harry Kane, Ivan Toney and Darwin Nunez.
If Bournemouth can get the right service into Solanke in and around those dangerous central areas, I'd be confident of him adding his name to that list.
Let's not forget, he was Bournemouth's top scorer with 29 Championship goals last season, making him the highest scoring English player in the top four tiers of English football. He also scored in both fixtures vs Fulham.
SCORE PREDICTION: Fulham 1-2 Bournemoth
Wolves vs Nottingham Forest, Saturday 3pm
It can't be much fun being a Wolves fan at the minute. I think most know there are the makings of a solid Premier League side waiting to be unleashed but morale is on the floor, their managerial search is proving fruitless and they have no strikers.
It might get worse, too, as Morgan Gibbs-White returns as Forest's most potent attacking weapon.
Steve Cooper's side resorted to ultra-defensive tactics in the draw with Aston Villa but Gibbs-White looked very dangerous playing just off the striker and got into some promising positions, but just lacked that killer final finish.
SCORE PREDICTION: Wolves 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Tottenham vs Everton, Saturday 5.30pm
This could be one of those 'job done' games for Antonio Conte's Spurs as Everton are going to make things fiddly for them.
Frank Lampard's men have only seen 17 goals for and against in their Premier League games this season - only Wolves' games have featured fewer goals (15). A low scoring home win looks the play.
Ryan Sessegnon, if selected, is a player of interest from a betting perspective such are his bulky prices in the assist markets. Conte's wing-backs aren't your traditional wing-backs in that they almost play as forwards when a Conte team attacks.
And when you factor in the market expectation of Tottenham's win chances and amount of goals they're expected to score, Sessegnon's chances of grabbing an assist are underrated.
The youngster provides great width for Conte and is at his most dangerous when running in behind the opposition full-back into a crossing position.
He has put in five crosses in his last two starts, creating three chances for his team-mates and when you have the likes of Harry Kane finishing off your ammunition an assist usually isn't far away.
SCORE PREDICTION: Tottenham 2-0 Everton
Aston Villa vs Chelsea, Sunday 2pm
On the subject of stenches, we must talk about Aston Villa's tame attack. Apparently, doctors are advising people with insomnia to get a season ticket at Villa Park.
It was truly a pitiful attacking performance at Nottingham Forest - a side that had previously lost their last five Premier League games.
Villa's expected goals output of 0.69 was the eighth time in their last 10 matches that they've posted a tally lower than one, which points to a clear issue in their ability to create good quality chances.
The eye test proves that too with Phillipe Coutinho, Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia all looking lost and out of ideas.
On the basis of the metrics, they should have been beaten to nil in both their meetings with traditional top-six teams this season, creating 0.27 from four shots vs Manchester City and 0.45 from four shots vs Arsenal.
Defensively they look pretty secure in their shape but Chelsea arrive in confident and flowing fashion under their new boss Graham Potter, who is getting his message across earlier than expected.
Chelsea have won four successive games in all competitions for the first time since March and have kept three successive clean sheets for the first time since February. Make that four please, Graham.
SCORE PREDICTION: Chelsea 2-0Aston Villa
Leeds vs Arsenal, Sunday 2pm
We haven't got much evidence to work with but Leeds' games against the top-six at Elland Road should be fun under Jesse Marsch.
His team are playing with a clear identity now. It's a brave style of football that leaves them woefully exposed if smart and intricate teams break their press but that's what you get with risk-reward type of football.
Arsenal are without question a team capable of exploiting that, yet, as Leeds showed in their 3-0 win against Chelsea earlier this season, their attacking patterns do lead to big chances being created.
So, a whacky game could be on the cards and those looking to back the over total goals line should fill their boots.
Both teams to score
SCORE PREDICTION: Leeds 2-4 Arsenal
Manchester United vs Newcastle, Sunday 2pm
My gut is telling me that Manchester United are a touch of value here but I'm staying clear of getting financially invested in Newcastle matches.
They confuse me as I'm convinced they are overrated by the markets, especially in attack, but have just scored nine goals in their last two games. So, my brain is frazzled.
Rest assured if they can grab three points here in a dominant showing I will have to revise my opinion.
One area they will be confident of finding joy from will be from set-pieces. No team has posted more shots (55, 14 more than any other team) and created a higher expected goals figure (5.01) from set-pieces this season than Newcastle.
Meanwhile, Man Utd have conceded the third most shots from set-piece situations this season and looked all at sea in the closing stages at Goodison Park last weekend when Everton went direct.
SCORE PREDICTION: Manchester United 2-1 Newcastle
Southampton vs West Ham, Sunday 2pm
There is a frenzy coming. The subject will be Lucas Paqueta, who is going to take the Premier League by storm over the next six weeks.
I had the pleasure of watching him up close on Sunday in West Ham's win over Fulham and it's easy to see why such excitement was caused when the Hammers secured his unlikely signature.
Paqueta was a class apart in the 3-1 win over Fulham, linking up with Gianluca Scamacca in devastating fashion. The Brazilian created three chances for his striker, who scored one when he probably should have finished all three.
"If you are any centre forward you want to play with Paqueta," gushed David Moyes afterwards.
Playing in a free role in this West Ham side that has plenty of protection for the defence is going to suit a player of such silk and savviness.
Yet, the markets haven't quite given him the respect he deserves, so we must take advantage while we can, starting in this clash where West Ham are taken to make it three Premier League wins on the spin.
They will be too streetwise and carry too much threat for a meandering Saints.
SCORE PREDICTION: Southampton 0-2 West Ham
Liverpool vs Manchester City, Sunday 4.30pm
Liverpool in a home match looks like one of those ridiculous bookmaker sign up offers - but this is the reality of their situation.
This is Liverpool's worst start to a Premier League season under Jurgen Klopp and they have already taken 14 points fewer than this stage in their 19/20 title winning campaign.
That said, Anfield with an underdog mentality is a dangerous place no matter the opposition.
No team has won there in the Premier League for 27 games. Their attacking metrics also still suggest Klopp's men are potentially in for two goals in this game so City may have to score three to win.
Liverpool have scored at least twice in each of their last four meetings with Manchester City in all competitions - no team has ever scored two or more goals in five consecutive games against a side managed by Pep Guardiola before.
Obviously since adding Erling Haaland, City do look jaw-droppingly ruthless in attack but when a quality counter-attack opposition team gets it right against them the balance of their defensive game does make them vulnerable to conceding.
In games against Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Manchester United this season they have shipped eight goals.
That makes me uneasy if I'm going to back them.
I still think a draw will be seen as a good result by Guardiola at this stage of the season and that has been the result in three of the last four Premier League meetings.
In fact, since Guardiola took charge of Manchester City, the aggregate score in the 17 meetings between the teams reads Liverpool 28-30 Manchester City. Historically there is little between the two.
The game to end 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3.
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