Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool all in a tricky battle this weekend
By Tanko Bauka
Chelsea Enzo Maresca, Manchester City, Pep Guardiola and Liverpool Arne Slot would go into this weekend’s encounter seeking to bounce back after last weekend’s shocking results in their various encounters across the English Barclays Premier League.
The trio knows that the time to respond is now as the league progresses steadily, with Arsenal in the driving seat with four points ahead of AFC Bournemouth in second place.
Chelsea, seeking to bounce back, have been handed a big task as they travel to face a Tottenham Hotspur side that is enjoying new life under Thomas Frank, who has helped build belief and confidence in the team.
They are now firing from all cylinders while Manchester City welcome tricky and dangerous AFC Bournemouth to the Etihad Stadium in a match where Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland is a doubt.
Liverpool FC has another yeoman game as they welcome Aston Villa that just defeated Manchester City and would want to maintain their winning streak as well as demonstrate that their victory against Manchester City was not a fluke.
Nottingham Forest are not having it easy at the moment which led to the sacking of two head coaches.
They would hope to continue their rebuilding process with a win but unfortunately, their weekend opponent are Manchester United which has discovered and recovered from the slump that saw them underperforming last season and have won three consecutive matches in a row in as many years.
The league leader Arsenal travel to engage Burnley which prioritises defensive as its trademark as they defend in numbers packing the bus to frustrate their opponents and the Gunners know they must maintain consistency if they want to end their trophy drought this season and must find a way to unlock the defensive threat Burnley would pose their way.
Fulham host Wolves at the Craven Cottage Stadium in London, while Crystal Palace welcome next door neighbours Brentford to Selhurst Park, as Brighton and Hove Albion ambushed Leeds United.
West Ham have Newcastle United to negotiate for the three points if possible while Sunderland take on Everton.
In the Spanish La Liga, after the much-talked-about El Clásico, the two Spanish gladiators return to continue to seek more three points to boost their winning chances.
Real Madrid again would be at the Santiago Bernabeu to welcome Valencia while FC Barcelona welcome new boys Elche.
Lavante host Celta Vigo as Deportivo Alaves engage Espanyol, with Real Betis taking on Mallorca, as Atletico Madrid host Sevilla, leaving Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao slugging it out for the three points at stake.
In the Italian Serie A, Inter Milan would want to bounce back after losing heavily to the defending Champion Napoli as they travel to engage Hellas Verona, while inconsistent Juventus, which just parted ways with the head coach Igor Tudor, would also be on the road to take on new boys Cremonese to try to rescue their fading season.
AC Milan welcome AS Roma to San Siro Stadium, while Napoli would want to maintain their lead on the league table with a visit from Cesc Fabregas. Como are not short of confidence as Sassuolo take on Genoa, with Lazio hosting Cagliari.
In the German Bundesliga, Bayern Munich have a tricky encounter, and their title credentials must be put to the test as they prepare to welcome the Defending Champion Bayer Leverkusen.
Bayern Munich are in the best form of their life but have to be wary of their opponents, who have proven they take on any opponents at any time.
Heidenheim host Eintracht Frankfurt while Union Berlin engage SC Freiburg with FC St Pauli taking on Bayern Monchenglabach.
RB Leipzig battle Stuttgart while FC Augsburg host Burussia Dortmund.
Fixtures across Europe
English Barclays Premier League
Saturday
Nottingham vs Manchester United.
Fulham vs Wolves
Crystal Palace vs Brentford
Burnley vs Arsenal
Brighton vs Leeds United
Tottenham vs Chelsea
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
Sunday
West Ham vs Newcastle United
Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth
Monday
Sunderland vs Everton
Spanish La Liga
Friday
Gatafe vs Girona
Saturday
Villarreal vs Rayo Vallacano
Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla
Real Sociedad vs Athletic Bilbao
Real Madrid vs Valencia
Sunday
Lavante vs Celta Vigo
Deportivo vs Espanyol
FC Barcelona vs Elche
Real Betis vs Mallorca
Monday
Real Oviedo vs Osasuna
Italian Serie A
Saturday
Udinese vs Atalanta
Napoli vs Como
Cremonese vs Juventus
Sunday
Hellas Verona vs Inter Milan
Torino vs Pisa SC
Fiorentina vs Lacce
Parma vs Bologna
AC Milan vs AS Roma
Monday
Sassuolo vs Genoa
Lazio vs Cagliari
German Bundesliga
Friday
FC Augsburg vs Dortmund
Saturday
Heidenheim vs Frankfurt
Union Berlin vs SC Freiburg
FC St Pauli vs Monchengladbach
RB Leipzig vs Stuttgart
Mainz 05 vs Werder Bremen
Bayern Munich vs Leverkusen
Sunday
Koln vs Hamburger
Wolfsburg vs Hoffenheim
