Manchester:
Liverpool’s new-look midfield will face a tough test as the Reds test their Premier League title aspirations at Newcastle on Sunday, while Manchester United aim to open their campaign against Nottingham Forest.
Title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal are two of only three teams with six points from the opening two games of the new campaign.
But it is Brighton who top the table with eight goals from their opening two games behind key midfielders Alexis McAllister and Moises Caido’s Sale.
AFP Sport takes a look at the best of the Premier League action this weekend:
Liverpool’s failure to beat Chelsea to either Cassado or Romeo Lavia has led to their transfer business being heavily criticized by many of their fans.
The Reds brought in 30-year-old Japan captain Wataru Endo as a replacement for the departed Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.
Endo, described by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp as a “real monster”, could make his St James’ Park debut in an early indicator of who could rival City and Arsenal for the title Is.
Newcastle pipped Liverpool to finish in the top four despite the Reds winning the last two meetings between the two teams last season.
The Magpies beat the highly regarded Aston Villa 5–1 at home on the opening weekend of the campaign, but were brought back down to earth by an inability to match champions City in a 1–0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool will have McAllister available after he was sent off for a red card on his home debut in a 3-1 win over Bournemouth.
Hopes that United can challenge for their first league title in 11 years have already dwindled after a poor performance at Wolves’ home ground following a 2–0 defeat at Tottenham, although on that occasion 1–0. 0 was saved from victory.
Erik ten Haag’s side have suffered a lack of forward forward in the absence of new striker Rasmus Hojlund, who has been ruled out with a back injury.
The Dane missed Saturday’s trip to Nottingham Forest, but another injury to Mason Mount could make things easier for Ten Haag.
Fitting captain Bruno Fernandes and Mount, who is signed from Chelsea for the close season, in the same midfield has proved problematic in the early weeks of the season.
United have lost only two of the 25 games in which the trio of Fernandes, Christian Eriksen and Casemiro started in midfield last season.
Two of the top three clubs to have lost their opening two games will face off on Saturday when troubled Everton host Wolves at Goodison Park.
Everton have narrowly escaped relegation for the past two years and look set for another season of misery, with Sean Dyche trying to plug gaps in his squad on a budget low by Premier League standards.
The Toffees’ on-field troubles have been compounded this week after a US investment group failed to secure a 25 per cent stake in the club.
“That has been the case at Everton for many months, even years,” Dyche said. “It’s our job to change the story. It always starts on the pitch, with me and the team changing the rhetoric.”
Wolves’ own financial problems led to the departure of manager Julen Lopetegui who resigned on the eve of the season.
Gary O’Neill’s dominant performance in his first game in charge went unrewarded at Old Trafford, but last weekend’s 4-1 thrashing at home to Brighton eroded that optimism.
