1<\/p>\n
Ton up for hard-working McBurnie<\/p>\n
With 10 top-flight goal contributions between them across three games already this season, the Chelsea trio of Morgan Rogers, Jo\u00e3o Pedro and Cole Palmer are the early pace-setters for the Premier League\u2019s most prolific, fluid and high-octane attacking unit. But on the occasion of his 100th Premier League<\/a> appearance, a scruffier and more ungainly unit will be hoping to steal their thunder, as high-flying Hull try to register a top-flight win against Chelsea for the very first time. Yet to score this season but with a couple of near misses to his name, what Oli McBurnie has thus far lacked in goal contributions he has more than made up for with selfless graft and off-the-ball grunt work, making a total mockery of Steve Clarke\u2019s decision not to include him in Scotland\u2019s World Cup squad. The Hull striker ought to prove a real handful for a decidedly porous home defence, and a goal would be a fitting way to mark a century of Premier League appearances. Chelsea have not won any of their past four league matches against promoted opposition and, given Hull\u2019s blistering start to the season, victory on Saturday seems anything but a foregone conclusion. Barry Glendenning<\/p>\n Chart showing duels won in the Premier League in 2026\u201127<\/a><\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Arbeloa must trust process as Iraola once did<\/p>\n This might be an opportune moment for \u00c1lvaro Arbeloa to meet Andoni Iraola, though perhaps not his Liverpool team. With three defeats and seven goals conceded from his first three Premier League games as Fulham head coach, questions are already being asked over the former Liverpool defender\u2019s ambitious approach. Just as they were when Iraola failed to win any of his first nine league games in charge of Bournemouth<\/a>. Trust yourself and the process, might be the Liverpool head coach\u2019s advice if asked. Fulham have been creative under Arbeloa but are easily exposed defensively. Liverpool, starting to click in attack under their new head coach, have the assets to exploit Fulham\u2019s weaknesses and subject Arbeloa to an uncomfortable Anfield return. Iraola\u2019s wide options could be reduced, however, with Bradley Barcola suffering cramp on Wednesday \u2013 his first start since France\u2019s World Cup semi-final loss \u2013 and Cody Gakpo nursing a minor injury. Andy Hunter<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Doucour\u00e9 eagerly waiting Palace return<\/p>\n Cheick Doucour\u00e9 has had a rotten run of luck with injuries. Just when the Mali midfielder looked as if he was ready to make a first Crystal Palace<\/a> appearance since January 2025 in Tuesday\u2019s Carabao Cup win over Middlesbrough, he was taken ill. Pierre Sage revealed last week that Doucour\u00e9 looked as if he had \u201cgiven him one million dollars\u201d when he was informed he would be part of the matchday squad at Fulham, where Palace got off the mark with a 3-2 victory. Sage has confirmed that the 26-year-old, who has been sidelined with two serious knee injuries but was once a transfer target for Liverpool, could be involved against Ipswich at Selhurst Park on Saturday. Whenever he does return it is sure to be a heartwarming moment. Ed Aarons<\/p>\n Cheick Doucour\u00e9 returned to the Crystal Palace squad for last weekend\u2019s trip to Fulham. Photograph: James Fearn\/Getty Images<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Cherries must end late lapses<\/p>\n The midfield battle between Brentford<\/a> and Bournemouth will be crucial on Saturday, with Vitaly Janelt and Mamadou Sangar\u00e9 setting the tempo for Keith Andrews\u2019 physical side. Brentford top the Premier League for aerial duels won (22.3 per 90 mins), interceptions (11.3 per 90), and fouls committed (16.3 per 90). \u201cThey defend well as a team, their high pressing is good,\u201d said Bournemouth\u2019s Marco Rose, who is hoping to guide his side to a first Premier League victory of the season. \u201cTheir transition, they have fast players. They have quality everywhere on the pitch, and every situation.\u201d Rose\u2019s answer for Brentford\u2019s aggressiveness should be Alex Scott, who leads his team for interceptions and has drawn nine fouls so far this campaign \u2013 the fourth-highest tally in the league. Late drama could also be the deciding factor at the Vitality Stadium. Despite leading in all three of their opening league fixtures, Bournemouth have picked up just two points and four of their five goals conceded have arrived from the 84th minute onwards. History favours their opponents too, as the Cherries have failed to win any of their eight top-flight meetings with the Bees. Yara El-Shaboury<\/p>\n Chart showing Premier League stats per game in 2026-27 for aerial duels won, fouls and interceptions for Brentford and Bournemouth<\/a><\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Jackson ready to fill Watkins\u2019 Villa boots<\/p>\n A summer of change at Aston Villa inevitably prompted plenty of noise but most of their new signings were long-standing targets, none more so than Nicolas Jackson. Unai Emery kickstarted Jackson\u2019s career at Villarreal and, after reuniting at Villa, the Senegal striker scored his first goal at Club Brugge<\/a> on Tuesday after his initial \u00a347.5m move. Jackson has replaced Ollie Watkins, who proved a reliable source of goals across six straight top-flight seasons, and the early evidence has been encouraging. \u201cI had a couple of fights with him when he was at Chelsea so when he first came in I thought: \u2018What\u2019s he going to be like?\u2019 but he\u2019s a brilliant guy,\u201d said the Villa captain, John McGinn. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of expectation with the transfer fee but he\u2019s going to be a huge player for us.\u201d Ben Fisher<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n Signs of early-season panic at Spurs<\/p>\n Only the most pessimistic home fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be gripped by anything resembling the kind of dread, anxiety and outright terror that accompanied Everton\u2019s visit on the final day of last season<\/a>, but the return of David Moyes\u2019 side so early in the current campaign will still make for nervous viewing. With no goals and just one point on the board after three league games, fan faith in Roberto De Zerbi \u2013 and the hundreds of millions of pounds lavished upon new signings \u2013 has created a prevailing presumption that Tottenham will soon start firing on at least some, if not all, cylinders. In Everton, Spurs welcome a team whose record in this corner of north London is worse than any other top-flight side\u2019s. Should they fail to beat a team who have taken just seven points from the past 51 available to them away at Tottenham, the sounds of early but outright mutiny are likely to be audible from the stands. BG<\/p>\n Chart showing expected goals per non-penalty shot in 2026-27 for Everton and Tottenham<\/a><\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Stadium of Light to give Guimar\u00e3es hot reception<\/p>\n Old acquaintance will be renewed at the Stadium of Light on Saturday evening. While Sunderland\u2019s captain and midfield anchor, Granit Xhaka, needs no introduction to his former north London public, the home centre-half Dan Ballard is a former Arsenal youth captain who joined the Gunners\u2019 academy at the age of eight. Then there is Bruno Guimar\u00e3es. Newcastle\u2019s former captain can expect a hot reception as his new side aim to extend their season-opening run of five straight wins (including the Community Shield). \u201cArsenal are flying, they\u2019re one of the best teams in Europe,\u201d says R\u00e9gis Le Bris, Sunderland\u2019s manager. \u201cIt will be challenging but I\u2019m very excited to experience this situation again.\u201d Thanks to goals from Ballard and Brian Brobbey, Le Bris choreographed a 2-2 Premier League draw<\/a> against Mikel Arteta\u2019s side on Wearside last November. \u201cWhen you face a strong opponent you can become a bit shy but the most important thing is to be ourselves,\u201d says Le Bris. \u201cArsenal are so adaptive they will find solutions, so we must be flexible.\u201d Louise Taylor<\/p>\n Bruno Guimar\u00e3es returns to the northeast as Arsenal visit Sunderland on Saturday night. Photograph: David Price\/Arsenal FC\/Getty Images<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n Coventry adding points to performances?<\/p>\n One of three teams, along with Aston Villa and Tottenham, yet to score a top-flight goal this season, Coventry were extremely unfortunate not to break their duck at Manchester City<\/a> last weekend. Their having narrowly avoided handing Frank Lampard\u2019s side an early opener, it took a string of excellent saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma to ensure City took three points at the death. \u201cThey played really well against Manchester City and created a lot of chances,\u201d said Fabian H\u00fcrzeler, who takes his Brighton team to the CBS Arena on Sunday afternoon. Having been scathing in his criticism of his own side\u2019s lack of energy and intensity in their woeful first-half performance against Leeds, the German will be aware that a similarly lethargic performance from his team is unlikely to go unpunished. Particularly away from home against a promoted team that may be firing blanks, but visibly grew in confidence with each passing minute of their defeat by one of the league\u2019s best teams. BG<\/p>\n Chart showing goals below expected goals in 2026-27 for the worst eight teams<\/a><\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n Contrasting Manchester teams face off in derby<\/p>\n Manchester derby No 199 features a fascinating showdown between two young managers operating in the sport\u2019s rarefied air: Michael Carrick, 45, who seeks to guide Manchester United to an 82nd victory in the fixture, and Enzo Maresca, 46, who aims for Manchester City\u2019s 63rd. As the great Pep Guardiola\u2019s successor, the visiting Italian can be delighted at his team\u2019s perfect record from their four games under him since the Community Shield defeat. Carrick, though, should be disappointed at the return from an opening three matches as United\u2019s permanent manager: a defeat at Hull<\/a> and draw at Everton<\/a>, with the 5-2 home win over Ipswich<\/a> sandwiched between. United fans will protest beforehand about the club\u2019s approach to eradicating ticket touting, and the occasion should be particularly spicy and vibrant. Jamie Jackson<\/p>\n Manchester United supporters protested about the club\u2019s ticket policies at Hull and will do so again before the Manchester derby. Photograph: Lee Smith\/Action Images\/Reuters<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n Battle of the goalkeepers at Elland Road<\/p>\n Two teams unbeaten in the Premier League this season, two German managers in the dugouts and a Monday night goalkeeping beauty contest at Elland Road. While Daniel Farke welcomes his compatriot Matthias Jaissle to West Yorkshire for the first time, James Trafford \u2013 the \u00a340m England keeper Newcastle tried to sign on three separate occasions \u2013 will be in goal for Leeds. The visitors eventually turned their attentions to the \u00a326m Czechia goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, who arrived on Tyneside from Braga in July. So far at least, Jaissle is delighted by the 24-year-old\u2019s performances. \u201cLukas is an amazing signing,\u201d said Jaissle. \u201cComing to the Premier League and dealing with the pressure is not easy and, as a keeper, that pressure is something else. I like Lukas a lot. He\u2019s so calm but so mature as well. There\u2019s not even a hint of nervousness. He gives the whole team confidence. That helps a lot.\u201d LT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"1 Ton up for hard-working McBurnie With 10 top-flight goal contributions between them across three games already this…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":767175,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[218,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-767174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football","tag-football","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/767174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=767174"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/767174\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/767175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=767174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=767174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=767174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}