Premier League Matchweek 3 Preview And Prediction

Key Matchups and Predictions for Premier League Matchweek 3

Arsenal vs Brighton Prediction: Premier League Preview

Arsenal welcome fellow high-flyers Brighton to the Emirates Stadium for Saturday’s early kick-off as they aim to continue their perfect start to the Premier League season.

Mikel Arteta’s side overcame Wolves on the opening day before securing an impressive 2-0 victory at Aston Villa last Saturday thanks to goals from Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey.

Their strong start to this campaign comes as no surprise, though, having fallen agonisingly short in their title tussle with Manchester City last season. Including 2023-24, Arsenal have won each of their last eight league games since a 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa in April.

Arteta will know his team must be near-perfect again to overthrow or keep pace with Pep Guardiola’s four-in-a-row champions. A ninth-straight victory against an exciting Brighton would lay down another early marker, following last week’s triumph at Villa Park.

However, Arsenal have not won nine in a row in the Premier League since a run between January and March 2004, en route to their unbeaten ‘Invincibles’ campaign under Wenger that brought top-flight glory.

Not since that campaign have Arsenal lifted the title, yet it is clear Arteta’s men are getting closer in their attempts to topple Guardiola’s City thanks to the presence of numerous world-class talents delivering regularly.

Yet Brighton themselves have enjoyed a promising start to the season under young head coach Fabian Hürzeler, whose squad has been further boosted by the acquisitions of Ferdi Kadioglu, and Matt O’Riley this week. The latter was, however, injured after a hefty tackle on his left ankle during Tuesday’s 4-0 EFL Cup victory over League One’s Crawley Town.

Having dispatched Everton in their league opener, Brighton snatched a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Manchester United last time out. João Pedro headed home from Simon Adingra’s cross in the 95th minute after Amad Diallo had earlier cancelled out Danny Welbeck’s opener at the Amex Stadium.

Veteran Welbeck has scored in 15 straight Premier League campaigns, bringing up his 100th league goal in that United win, and is now looking to score in three consecutive top-flight appearances for the first time since January 2014.

The 31-year-old German is aiming to become the first Brighton manager to win his opening three league games in charge. Only Alan Mullery (August 1976), Jeff Wood (January 1999) and Micky Adams (April 1999) previously won their first two such matches for the Seagulls, but none of them managed a trio of victories to start.

Victorious starts to the new term are no surprise to Brighton recently, however. They have won their opening two Premier League matches in three of the last four seasons, but have not managed three straight wins to open a campaign since 2011-12 in the Championship.

As for team news, there is no change for Arteta, who remains without Gabriel Jesus, Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu due to injuries that will keep them out until mid-September. Brighton, meanwhile, will run the rule on Mats Wieffer and Brajan Gruda’s fitness, though O’Riley and Solly March are out for Saturday’s clash.

Arsenal vs Brighton Head-to-Head

Arsenal managed the league double over Brighton last season, winning this exact fixture 2-0 at the Emirates back in December thanks to goals from Jesus and Havertz.

Indeed, Saturday’s hosts have won three of their last four Premier League games against Brighton (L1), as many as they had in their first 10 against them beforehand (D3 L4).

However, Brighton have won three of their seven Premier League visits to Arsenal. They’re one of just three teams to have won more or as many visits to the Emirates as they’ve lost in the competition, along with Manchester City (W7 L6) and Swansea City (W3 L3).

That may leave Hürzeler optimistic of another victory here, yet Brighton failed to win any of their seven top-flight away games against London sides last season, drawing three and losing four.

Coincidentally, their last win in the capital was a 3-0 victory at Arsenal in May 2023, derailing Arteta’s title charge after strikes from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupiñán.

PREDICTION: HOME WIN @ 1.38

Liverpool vs Man Utd Prediction: Premier League Preview

The first major derby of the Premier League season takes place between Manchester United and Liverpool this weekend.

Arne Slot heads to Old Trafford having claimed back-to-back 2-0 wins to start life in charge of the Merseyside giants, a honeymoon period which could heat up considerably with victory down the M62.

Erik ten Hag has enjoyed the best of this derby since arriving in Manchester but, when United tanks against Liverpool, they tank hard - recent defeats including 7-0, 5-0 and 4-0.

After losing to Brighton last weekend, United know a failure to get a result here risks puncturing any feel-good factor around the new campaign

Last season saw a pair of league draws either side of Amad Diallo’s dramatic extra-time winner in March’s FA Cup tie.

Mason Mount has been ruled out with a muscle injury, with the midfielder taking to social media to confirm the setback. He will reportedly be on the sidelines for up to a month. Rasmus Hojlund, Luke Shaw and Leny Yoro are ruled out so Ten Hag will have to reshuffle his pack from the already available options if he chooses to do so.

Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee are both primed for full debuts with the latter likely replacing Mount to relieve Bruno Fernandes of his false-nine duties. Alejandro Garnacho could also enter the XI.

Scott McTominay will join Napoli before the weekend while Manuel Ugarte may complete his switch from Paris Saint-Germain in time to play.

Ibrahima Konate should continue at centre-back for Liverpool amid Jarell Quansah’s injury worry.

Slot has otherwise settled on a consistent line-up featuring Diogo Jota up front and Ryan Gravenberch in midfield.

PREDICTION: 2 DNB @1.42

West Ham United vs Manchester City: AWAY WIN @1.40

Chelsea FC vs Crystal Palace: 1X & OVER 1.5 @1.38

Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur: OVER 2.5 @1.36