After a brief pause for the international window, the nitty-gritty of Premier League action returns with a vengeance for Match-week 8 this weekend.
There's the small matter of a fierce north-west rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United, where the Red Devils are aiming to extend an unbeaten league record this season.
Manchester City is above its local rival on goal difference alone and will aim to pounce on any slip from United at home to Stoke City.
Chelsea was beaten by Pep Guardiola's men last time out but will fancy its chances against beleaguered Crystal Palace.
Here is a preview all 10 Premier League matches this weekend.
LIVERPOOL VS MANCHESTER UNITED
A return of just one win in seven competitive outings has seen the pressure grow on Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, but victory in arguably the Premier League's most highly charged fixture would certainly lift the mood around Anfield.
However, the Reds are on a six-match winless league run against United, their worst stretch since an eight-game streak between 2004 and 2008.
Indeed, United has won three of its last five league trips to Liverpool and with just two goals conceded this term – those coming in a 2-2 draw with Stoke City – it will fancy its chances of improving that record.
READ: Big Match Focus: Liverpool v Manchester United
Klopp has an enviable record against opposite number Jose Mourinho, though, losing just once against the Portuguese in seven matches, while the United boss has failed to beat Liverpool in his last four attempts, having won eight of his first 10 against them.
If Romelu Lukaku continues his dream start with a goal, he will be the first United player to have scored on his first eight Premier League outings for the Red Devils.
MANCHESTER CITY VS STOKE CITY
Stoke City faces the unenviable task of a trip to league leaders Manchester City, which has excelled at both ends of the pitch this season.
The Citizens' goal has been breached just twice and only one goalkeeper has conceded fewer goals in his first seven Premier League starts than Ederson, with Petr Cech letting in just one.
READ: Aguero in contention for Manchester City vs Stoke
A +20 goal difference after seven matches also represents the second best in Premier League history, with Chelsea having +21 in the 2010-11 season.
Pep Guardiola's men are fast turning the Etihad into a fortress and they are unbeaten in their last 19 home matches across all competitions - Man City's best run since January 2012 (30 games).
CRYSTAL PALACE VS CHELSEA
Champion Chelsea suffered a setback before the break with a 1-0 defeat at home to title rival Manchester City, but Antonio Conte's men could hardly have asked for a better opponent to return to winning ways.
Palace is in disarray this season having lost all of its opening seven matches without registering a goal – no top-flight side has lost its first eight since Manchester United in 1930-31.
READ: Chelsea faces anxious wait over Kante injury
A change in management has failed to provide an upturn in fortunes, and Roy Hodgson could be become the second permanent boss to lose his first four Premier League matches in charge of a side without scoring a single goal. The other man? His predecessor Frank de Boer.
Moreover, Chelsea has lost just one of its last eight league visits to Selhurst Park, while Cesc Fabregas is one shy of 50 Premier League goals - if he scores, he will be the third Spaniard to reach the landmark after Fernando Torres and Diego Costa.
WATFORD VS ARSENAL
A team without a home win hosts a side without an away victory as Watford welcomes Arsenal to Vicarage Road.
Watford ended its long wait for a league win over Arsenal when it beat the Gunners for the first time since 1988 at Emirates Stadium in January, and Arsenal will have to end a run of three Premier League away matches without a goal if it is to take all three points on this occasion.
READ: Mustafi faces long spell out with hamstring injury
Arsenal, which sits fifth, is showing signs of improvement having won three of its last four league matches, while it has not conceded a league goal since a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Liverpool on August 27.
TOTTENHAM VS BOURNEMOUTH
Third-placed Tottenham will aim to address its Wembley woes against a Bournemouth side which sits 19th and has struggled to keep Spurs at bay.
On only four occasions have the sides met in league competition, with Tottenham winning three and drawing one of those, scoring 12 times in the process.
But since moving to Wembley for the duration of this campaign, Spurs have not won at home in the league – it is the first time since 2008-09 that Spurs have failed to win their opening three league games.
READ: Pochettino claims Tottenham cannot compete with Manchester clubs in transfer market
Should it not win this match, Tottenham will be the first team in Football League history to win each of its opening four away games but fail to register a victory in as many home fixtures.
There is a neat symmetry to Harry Kane's shots record this season, having registered 22 at home and away, but while he has six goals on the road, the England striker is yet to find the net at home this term.
LEICESTER CITY VS WEST BROM
Leicester City has beaten West Brom in three of the six Premier League meetings between the teams, but none of those victories have come on home soil.
Indeed, the Baggies are unbeaten in their past seven away trips to the Foxes – their longest run without a defeat in Leicester.
Monday has proved a fruitful day for Leicester, with four of its last five home matches played on the day returning a victory.
READ: FIFA rejects Leicester appeal over Adrien Silva signing
West Brom, though, will have a different opinion of Mondays, having recorded only one win on the road from its last 11 at the beginning of the week.
Jamie Vardy has, in the past, proved a thorn in West Brom's side, scoring in three of his past five matches against the Baggies – although all three came at The Hawthorns.
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION VS EVERTON
The Toffees find themselves in a very sticky situation ahead of what could be a crucial trip to Brighton and Hove Albion for under-fire manager Ronald Koeman.
A poor 1-0 home defeat to Burnley last time out leaves Everton languishing in 16th and Koeman fighting for his job.
The good news for Everton is that it has been beaten by promoted sides just once in 19 Premier League games.
READ: Giroud: I was very close to joining Everton
The bad news is it has had just 17 shots on target – only two more than Romelu Lukaku, who was sold to Manchester United in the close season.
Brighton boss Chris Hughton has lost only once to Everton as a manager.
BURNLEY VS WEST HAM
From the battle of the reds, to the clash of the clarets, Burnley aims to continue its excellent start to the campaign against West Ham.
Sean Dyche's men are on their longest unbeaten Premier League run having won two and drawn three of their last five outings – a return that has propelled the plucky Clarets to sixth in the table.
Consistency has once again been key for Dyche, with the Burnley boss making just five changes to his XI this season, fewer than any other team, while Slaven Bilic has made 16.
Burnley's record against West Ham does not make great reading, though, with the Hammers winning five of their six Premier League contests.
SWANSEA CITY VS HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
Swansea City and Huddersfield Town will face off for the first time in the top flight, completing the set following previous clashes in the second, third and fourth tiers of English football.
Goals have been a problem for both teams, with Huddersfield failing to score in nine of its past 14 competitive matches, including the last three – it has not gone four with a goal since August 2004.
The Swans, meanwhile, have been particularly shot shy. Paul Clement's side – which is 18th – has just three league goals and 11 shots on target, with Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku and Mohamed Salah each individually recording more.
SOUTHAMPTON VS NEWCASTLE UNITED
Newcastle United has proved a historically favourable opponent for Southampton.
The Saints have won more Premier League games in total (15) and at home (12) against the Magpies than any other opponent.
Indeed, Newcastle has just one Premier League away win against Southampton to its name, while it has picked up just five of the last 42 available points on the road in the top flight.
But Rafael Benitez's men can take heart from the fact Southampton have failed to score in eight of their last nine home Premier League matches.
Mauricio Pellegrino's side is aiming to snap a two-match losing streak, while Newcastle has also failed to win its last two games but did earn a 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool last time out.
Comments
SHARE