Premier League Preview: Matchday eight

The Premier League returns this weekend and all eyes will be on Anfield at lunchtime on Saturday as Liverpool face Manchester United.

The fixture is arguably the most anticipated of the campaign if not only for both sides, then the neutral as well and it rarely disappoints in terms of drama, however if it is goals you are after you may have to wait for an alternative.

There have been fewer than three in each of the last five clashes and another tight game is expected this time around with the hosts desperate to not lose ground in the title race and the visitors keen to not give any further of an advantage to rivals and leaders Manchester City who sit in first place by virtue of goal difference.

Absent stars

Both sides have been affected by the international break with Liverpool losing Sadio Mane for upto six weeks while Manchester United will be without Marouane Fellaini after he damaged his knee whilst playing for Belgium.

The last three meetings have ended all square and you could be forgiven for fancying the draw this time around, which can be backed at a price of 23/10 with Bet 365.

Manchester City will be hoping to continue steamrollering their way through the campaign when they host Stoke City later on Saturday.

Rampant

Pep Guardiola’s men have won their last five league games on the bounce, scoring nineteen goals and conceding just one and another win here will almost certainly keep them at the summit even if their neighbors take all three points.

Third place Tottenham Hotspur host second from bottom Bournemouth with everything pointing to a home win, not least the form of Harry Kane who can’t stop scoring.

The twenty-four year old’s double for England in their recent international break took his tally to fifteen for club and country since the first of September and unsurprisingly he is odds on to get on the scoresheet this time around.

Chasing pack

Chelsea are in fourth and are the latest side looking to take advantage of Crystal Palace’s woes as they travel to Selhurst Park while Arsenal will look to extend their unbeaten run to eight games as they travel to Watford in Saturday’s late kick-off.

Elsewhere on Saturday Burnley will hope to continue their promising start to the campaign as they host West Ham United while struggling Swansea City welcome Huddersfield Town to the Liberty Stadium.

Sunday’s action kicks off at the Amex Stadium where Brighton and Hove Albion take on Everton with both sides currently tied on seven points with just nine league goals scored between them so far while Southampton face Newcastle United later in the day, before Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion conclude proceedings at the King Power Stadium on Monday evening.