The second weekend of the Premier League season brings a heavyweight fixture to Tyneside, with Alexander Isak set to return to St James' Park as Newcastle host Liverpool at 4.30pm. The Swedish forward's appearance is expected to be the standout storyline of the day, capping off a round of matches that also includes Manchester City against Bournemouth and Brighton facing Aston Villa, both kicking off at 2pm.
At the Etihad, Enzo Maresca will have to reshuffle his attacking options after confirming that winger Jeremy Doku will miss the next two to three weeks with a calf problem. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Maresca explained the situation: "At the moment, the only one [unavailable] is Jeremy Doku. Unfortunately in the last game at half-time he was complaining about a calf pain. Idea was that he would come off, the change was planned and at the moment, [he's out for] 2-3 weeks, no more than that."
With Doku sidelined, Erling Haaland is expected to retain his central striking role, while Phil Foden could shift to the right flank, pushing Antoine Semenyo over to the left to accommodate Rayan Cherki through the middle. Matheus Nunes has recovered from a warm-up injury and may return at right-back in place of Abdukodir Khusanov, while Savinho and Omar Marmoush remain unavailable as both edge closer to departures for Tottenham. Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to continue in goal despite a shaky display against Arsenal previously, protected by a back line of Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Nico O'Reilly. Mateo Kovacic looked sharp during the Community Shield and should partner Elliot Anderson in midfield, while Jack Grealish's involvement remains uncertain as his long-term future at the club continues to be a talking point.
Elsewhere across the weekend's action, Saturday's fixtures produced plenty of drama. Leeds edged Nottingham Forest 1-0 courtesy of a late Anton Stach strike, while Ipswich secured a dramatic 90th-minute victory over Sunderland on their return to the top flight. Hull City stunned Manchester United with a 2-0 win, prompting United boss Michael Carrick to urge calm among supporters. Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-0, a match watched by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, while Tottenham suffered a heavy defeat at Brentford that has raised early concerns about Thomas Frank's squad depth and defensive solidity following a difficult opening to the campaign.
Statistical analysis from the weekend's matches has also fuelled debate about tactical trends in the post-Pep Guardiola era, with observers noting that all five winning sides on Saturday had less possession than their opponents — a potential signal of shifting stylistic approaches across the division now that City's long spell of dominance appears to be entering a new phase, with Rodri's summer departure to Barcelona adding to questions about how the champions will adapt.
As attention turns to Sunday's fixtures, the football world will be watching closely to see how Isak is received on his return to Newcastle, and whether Liverpool can continue their strong start to the season. Manchester City, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back with all three points against a Bournemouth side eager to cause an upset, while Brighton and Aston Villa look to open their account with a positive result in the early kick-off.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football and The Standard.