Saturday’s Premier League action kicks off at the Vitality Stadium where Bournemouth take on title favourites Manchester City.
The Cherries are one of five sides looking to register their first points of the campaign having lost their opening two fixtures while the Citizens have already lost ground in the title race having been held by Everton on Monday evening.
In ten previous meetings the south coast club have never beaten their Manchester opponents while they haven’t even managed a goal in each of the five previous times they have faced them at home, so the stats point to an away win which if it happens would see Pep Guardiola’s side leapfrog neighbours Manchester United – if only for a few hours.
Peerless pacesetters
The Red Devils, who this week announced that they had re-signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic host Leicester City in the day’s late kick off having began their campaign with back-to-back 4-0 victories.
Jose Mourinho’s side were ruthless in the wins against West Ham United and Swansea City with summer signings Nemanja Matic and Romelu Lukaku truly hitting the ground running since their arrivals from Chelsea and Everton respectively.
Lukaku will become the first Manchester United player to score in each of his first three Premier League appearances if he nets here and can be backed at a price of 8/11 to do so.
Pointless pool
Two more of the league’s pointless sides clash at St James’s Park where Newcastle United face West Ham United while Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace will also be looking to get off the mark as they take on Watford and Swansea City.
Huddersfield Town – the surprise package of the opening two weeks of the new campaign will be looking to secure a third straight win as they welcome Southampton to the John Smith’s Stadium.
Wayne Rooney who announced his retirement from international football in the week will, like the man who was wearing number ten for Everton last season, be looking to score for a third straight league game as the Toffees travel to champions Chelsea on Sunday.
Antonio Conte’s side bounced back from their opening day defeat to Burnley with a win over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley last time out and the two aforementioned teams meet at the national stadium later in the day.
Surprise start
West Bromwich Albion will be looking to maintain their one hundred percent record as they take on Stoke City while arguably of the weekend takes place at Anfield where Liverpool host Arsenal.
Five of the last six meetings between the Gunners and the Reds have boasted at least four goals and with both sides well publicised defensive issues you would be forgiven for betting that happening once more this time around.
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