Premier League preview: Arsenal, Liverpool eye two wins in two

Arsenal and Liverpool will seek to bag three points once again on a weekend where champion Manchester City faces a tough assignment in the form of Tottenham Hotspur.

Liverpool will equal its best Premier League winning run of 11 consecutive victories if it finds a way past Southampton at St Mary's.

Included in the present streak are the four straight wins the Reds managed away from home towards the end of last season.

Worryingly for the Saints, their first home fixture of a new Premier League campaign has never yielded much: a solitary victory is all they have to show from their past 20 seasons at this level.

Jurgen Klopp's goal-keeping problems is set to be compounded if second-choice Adrian is ruled out for the fixture with an ankle injury.

An irritated Klopp revealed the second-choice shot-stopper was struggling with swelling following a post-match collision with a pitch invader during Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup win over Chelsea.

 

The Spaniard, signed on a free earlier this month, only began the game after regular starter Alisson injured his calf during the Premier League victory over Norwich City at Anfield.

Third-choice option Andy Lonergan, 35, another recent acquisition following his release by Middlesbrough, may now be required to take over at St Mary's, much to Klopp's chagrin.

Ozil, Kolasinac in contention for Arsenal return

Arsenal demonstrated maturity in grinding out a 1-0 win at Newcastle United last weekend and can be confident of making it six points from a possible six.

The Gunners have beaten Burnley in 10 straight matches in all competitions, while Sean Dyche has lost all eight of his Premier League games against them.

Burnley looked bright in dispatching Southampton but have historically struggled to contain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, scorer of three braces in this fixture.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery will have Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac available for Burnley's visit to the Emirates on Saturday after the pair missed last weekend's trip to Newcastle over security fears.

ASTON VILLA V BOURNEMOUTH

 

Aston Villa and Bournemouth have only ever met on seven previous occasions in all competitions.

Villa has secured victory in four and its manager, Dean Smith, won three of five against the Cherries while in charge of Walsall in League One.

Bournemouth, held at home by Sheffield United last time out, has taken just eight points from 11 away games against promoted teams in the Premier League.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION V WEST HAM

With the wounds from a humbling defeat to Manchester City still fresh, West Ham will not exactly relish a trip to the Amex Stadium.

Its upbeat opponent, Brighton and Hove Albion, has secured 10 points from a possible 12 in Premier League home games against the Hammers.

Manuel Pellegrini's men have now lost each of their past eight league fixtures in August.

EVERTON V WATFORD

 

Marco Silva appears to be developing a more resilient and robust Everton, which could spell trouble for Watford.

The Toffees battled to a point with 10 men in their season opener at Crystal Palace, kept five consecutive clean sheets at home to round out the last Premier League season, and are hunting a fifth successive top-flight victory at Goodison Park.

Watford, meanwhile, is on the cusp of losing five straight for the first time since 2016-17.

NORWICH CITY V NEWCASTLE UNITED

Norwich City might have been exposed defensively against Liverpool but the omens are good for its home clash against Newcastle United, which has managed two points from its past six visits to Carrow Road.

Magpies boss Steve Bruce left the venue empty-handed following visits with Birmingham City in 2005, Sunderland in 2011 and Hull City in 2014.