Premier League match previews: Team news, key stats and predictions
Southampton vs Chelsea and Newcastle vs Man Utd live on Sky Sports
Sunday 6 October 2019 12:22, UK
Team news, key stats and predictions as the Premier League returns, with three games live on Sky Sports this weekend.
Arsenal vs Bournemouth - Sunday, 2pm
Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns as head coach Unai Emery prepares to welcome back a host of first-team regulars for Sunday's Premier League visit of Bournemouth.
Emery made 10 changes for Thursday's Europa League win over Standard Liege with the likes of Granit Xhaka, Bernd Leno, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Matteo Guendouzi all likely to return.
Striker Alexandre Lacazette (ankle) and midfielder Emile Smith Rowe (concussion) are the only absentees with forward Bukayo Saka available having suffered from cramp in the latter stages of Monday's draw at Manchester United.
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe should have Scotland winger Ryan Fraser back following illness.
Defender Adam Smith (hamstring) and midfielder Dan Gosling (hip) are both closing in on a return as they step up their recovery.
Defender Chris Mepham has withdrawn from the Wales squad with an unspecified injury, while midfielder David Brooks (ankle), left-back Charlie Daniels (knee) and winger Junior Stanislas (knee) all continue their own rehabilitation.
Stat of the match: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could become the first Arsenal player to score as many as eight goals in the Gunners' first eight games to a Premier League season since Dennis Bergkamp in 1997-98.
How to watch and follow: Follow the action with our dedicated live blog. Highlights of the game will be published shortly after full-time on the Sky Sports website and app plus the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.
Charlie Nicholas' prediction: This is a game I expect Arsenal to go and win. Bournemouth are ticking along nicely and will play on the counter-attack, but they don't tend to get results on the road away at the big sides. But with Arsenal's defence is still very fragile, this is another dangerous game for the Gunners. They should just have enough to get the win, but then again if Arsenal are one thing, they are surprising.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 3-1 (10/1 with Sky Bet)
Man City vs Wolves - Sunday, 2pm
City are again without playmaker Kevin De Bruyne as they host Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Belgium international missed the midweek Champions League victory over Dinamo Zagreb after suffering a groin injury in the latter stages of last weekend's victory at Everton.
Manager Pep Guardiola insists the problem is not too serious but he is not willing to take a risk this weekend.
John Stones also remains on the sidelines, but Guardiola added that he is hopeful the England defender will also be fit after the upcoming international break.
As for the visitors, Portugal forward Diogo Jota is still absent after being sidelined for Wolves' Europa League win at Besiktas on Thursday with an ankle problem.
However, apart from missing Jota, the visitors have a fully-fit squad to pick from.
Stat of the match: Nine of the last 14 goals scored in Premier League meetings between Man City and Wolves have been via set-pieces (four corners, three penalties, two free-kicks), including four of the five last season.
How to watch and follow: Follow the action with our dedicated live blog. Highlights of the game will be published shortly after full-time on the Sky Sports website and app plus the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.
Charlie Nicholas' prediction: Wolves can be awkward, but Manchester City should have a comfortable afternoon. If Liverpool drop points on the Saturday before, then it is a chance they simply have to take. City are brilliant to watch, and they are only just getting started. Wolves are a dangerous side and they got their first win last week, but by the time they have come from Thursday's tough trip to Besiktas, it may be too much for Nuno Espirito Santo's side.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 3-1 (10/1 with Sky Bet)
Southampton vs Chelsea - Sunday, 2pm, live on Sky Sports Premier League
Southampton full-back Cedric Soares was absent for the 2-1 loss at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last time out after pulling out injured in the warm-up.
The Portugal international has a calf problem and will remain unavailable when Frank Lampard's Blues visit St Mary's.
Boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has further injury concerns, with Moussa Djenepo sidelined for the foreseeable future due to a hip issue.
The Mali winger has scored twice in three top-flight games since his summer switch from Standard Liege, but has not featured since claiming the winner at Sheffield United on September 14.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will be without Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Achilles), Emerson Palmieri (thigh), Antonio Rudiger (groin) and Marco Van Ginkel (ACL) for Sunday's clash on the south coast.
Stat of the match: Chelsea have scored at least once in each of their last 15 away games against Southampton in all competitions (33 goals in total), last failing to find the net in a 0-1 loss in December 1997.
How to watch: Southampton vs Chelsea is live on Super Sunday from 1pm; Kick-off 2pm. Sky Sports customers can watch in-game clips in the live match blog on the Sky Sports website and app. Highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.
Charlie Nicholas' prediction: This is another good test for Southampton, who were decent against Tottenham. Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham have been praised, and rightly so. Abraham has earned his first England call-up, rightly so too. Chelsea are sitting in seventh which is acceptable - it is tight at the moment. It will be a season full of ups and downs for the Blues and with lots of games coming up for their youngsters, it may just take its toll on occasions.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 1-1 (6/1 with Sky Bet)
Live Renault Super Sunday
Newcastle vs Manchester United - Sunday, 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports Premier League
Newcastle midfielder Isaac Hayden is suspended for the clash with Manchester United. Hayden was dismissed for a challenge on Leicester's Dennis Praet during last weekend's 5-0 drubbing at the King Power Stadium and begins a three-match ban.
However, head coach Steve Bruce could be boosted by the return of striker Dwight Gayle (calf), wing-back Jetro Willems (knee) and midfielder Jonjo Shelvey (hamstring), while defender Florian Lejeune (knee) is building up match fitness, leaving only winger Matt Ritchie (ankle) on the casualty list.
Paul Pogba, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Anthony Martial look set to be among Manchester United's absentees. Pogba (foot), Wan-Bissaka (illness) and Martial (thigh) were among those that missed Thursday's Europa League trip to AZ Alkmaar, with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saying afterwards that there would "probably not" be any players returning on Sunday.
Defenders Luke Shaw, Phil Jones and Ashley Young were others to miss the 0-0 draw in Holland, where forward Jesse Lingard limped off with a hamstring issue that will need assessing.
Stat of the match: Manchester United are winless in their last seven away league games (D3 L4) - they last had a longer run without a win on the road in the top-flight between February and September 1989 (11 games).
How to watch: Newcastle vs Man Utd is live on Super Sunday from 4pm; Kick-off 4.30pm. Sky Sports customers can watch in-game clips in the live match blog on the Sky Sports website and app. Highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.
Charlie Nicholas' prediction: Steve Bruce goes up against his old team - it is an intriguing one. The last time Newcastle were at home, they were dreadful. You have to give the fans something at home, they are an amazing bunch of supporters. Manchester United are sitting in 10th with two wins in seven, scrambling for points at home. There is a lot of demands in place but Solskjaer has his plan for the youth and the club. His vision will take time. One week, Newcastle will surprise everybody, and this may be this week. If they hit them and are aggressive, they can shock Manchester United.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 2-1 (14/1 with Sky Bet)
Live Renault Super Sunday
