Manchester City chase a seventh straight league win, Leeds welcome Manchester United and Tottenham face another chance to get moving in this weekend’s Premier League programme.
Matchweek seven runs from Saturday 17 October to Monday 19 October. Everton and Chelsea open the action, while Spurs and Coventry bring it to a close. In between, there is a Brighton–Crystal Palace meeting and an awkward away assignment for Arsenal at Nottingham Forest.
City set the target, Arsenal play catch-up
City host Ipswich with six wins from six and 18 points. Arsenal sit three points behind. That gives the leaders the chance to raise the pressure before the Gunners take the field on Sunday afternoon.
Ipswich have nine points from six games, so this is hardly an invitation to treat the away side as scenery. Still, the challenge is clear: interrupt a winning run that nobody in the league has stopped yet. For Arsenal, the task at Forest is to keep their own business tidy, regardless of Saturday’s result.
Leeds and Manchester United: who handles the occasion?
Sunday’s Elland Road meeting offers a compelling contrast. Leeds are seventh with nine points; United are 13th with six. A home win would stretch that gap, while an away victory would bring the visitors level on points.
The temptation is to make a fixture like this about noise and nerves. The football matters too: who can keep possession under pressure, win the second balls and avoid handing the opposition an early foothold? Those are the contests to watch before the occasion takes over.
Brighton’s opportunity, pressure near the bottom
Third-placed Brighton host Crystal Palace. At the other end, Bournemouth, Tottenham and Fulham are still looking for their first league wins. Bournemouth face Sunderland, Fulham welcome Hull and Spurs host Coventry on Monday.
These are not matches that settle a season in October. They can, however, change the mood around the next one. For supporters waiting for a win, another promising spell is unlikely to feel like enough. Turning a decent start into a result is the test.
The rest of the weekend
Everton and Chelsea begin Saturday level on ten points. Brentford then host Liverpool, before Newcastle face Aston Villa in the evening game.
It is a schedule with plenty of competing stories: the leaders protecting their pace, rivals meeting on Sunday and winless sides trying to give their supporters something to build on. The early kick-off could set the tone, but keep an eye on Monday’s finish too.
Premier League fixtures: 17–19 October
All kick-off times below are UK time (BST).
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 17 Oct | Everton v Chelsea | 12:30 |
| Sat 17 Oct | Brentford v Liverpool | 15:00 |
| Sat 17 Oct | Fulham v Hull City | 15:00 |
| Sat 17 Oct | Manchester City v Ipswich Town | 15:00 |
| Sat 17 Oct | Newcastle United v Aston Villa | 17:30 |
| Sun 18 Oct | Bournemouth v Sunderland | 14:00 |
| Sun 18 Oct | Brighton v Crystal Palace | 14:00 |
| Sun 18 Oct | Leeds United v Manchester United | 14:00 |
| Sun 18 Oct | Nottingham Forest v Arsenal | 16:30 |
| Mon 19 Oct | Tottenham Hotspur v Coventry City | 20:00 |
Schedule: Premier League. Standings: Sky Sports table updated 13 October, checked before publication on 16 October. Fixtures remain subject to change.
Make your call: which side is most likely to spring a surprise this weekend? Have your say in the comments and catch up with more FanBanter football coverage.
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