A packed Premier League weekend brings contrasting fortunes into focus as managers old and new look to build early-season momentum across the division.
At Anfield, Andoni Iraola takes charge of his first competitive home match since arriving from Bournemouth, hosting a Nottingham Forest side that has won its last two visits to Merseyside without conceding a goal. The Spaniard will be eager to open his account in front of the home crowd, though Forest's recent record at Anfield suggests it will not be straightforward. Meanwhile, Oliver Glasner's tenure has started poorly, with two home defeats to Leeds already on the books.
Saturday's early kick-offs also include Bournemouth against Everton. Marco Rose's Bournemouth side suffered a tough opening-day defeat after conceding two late goals against Manchester City, and they now face an Everton team chasing back-to-back league wins to start a season for the first time since 2020. Elsewhere, promoted sides Coventry and Hull meet at the CBS Arena after beginning their campaigns in very different fashion.
The standout fixture of the day comes at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Roberto De Zerbi's revamped Spurs side hosts Matthias Jaissle's Newcastle. Spurs are still reeling from a heavy 3-0 defeat to Brentford last weekend, a difficult opening for De Zerbi's project in north London. Newcastle, by contrast, were unlucky not to take three points against Liverpool, only denied by a stoppage-time penalty equaliser deep into added time. Both clubs did enjoy confidence-boosting victories in the Carabao Cup during the week, adding intrigue to how each side will approach the league clash.
Sunday's programme offers four more Premier League fixtures. Chelsea welcome a rejuvenated Brighton side who impressed with a 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa in their opening match. Xabi Alonso, meanwhile, begins life in the dugout on the back of a 3-2 win over local rivals Fulham, a promising start to his new era. Leeds and Brentford both opened their seasons with victories, meaning at least one of the two will see their perfect start ended when they meet at Elland Road. At the bottom of the early table, Sunderland host Fulham in a meeting between two sides yet to register a single point this campaign.
The weekend's action closes with a heavyweight clash of a different kind at Old Trafford, where Manchester United host Ipswich. Gary O'Neil's Ipswich side arrive full of confidence following a win over Sunderland in their opening fixture, while Michael Carrick's United will be desperate to bounce back after a chastening opening-day loss to Championship play-off winners Hull. With Ipswich riding high and United under early pressure, the game promises to be a significant test for Carrick's rebuilding project.
Across the division, several managers are searching for answers just weeks into the new campaign, while others look to carry early confidence into consecutive victories. With the transfer window also nearing its close, speculation around late deals is expected to run alongside the on-field action throughout the weekend.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.