After the mother of all international breaks, during this time the Premier League The landscape has changed enormously, the action on the field finally returns this weekend.
The sixth round game arrives at Anfield in disgrace Manchester City traveling to the team that has undoubtedly suffered the most from his financial trap, Liverpool.
The champions start the program boosted by the news of Mikel Arteta’s lucrative new contract.
Saturday, October 10, 2026
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Monday, October 12, 2026
SATURDAY
Arsenal-Leeds (12.30pm)
It must have been a long three weeks for Arteta, the obsessive Arsenal manager who attended to every detail of their 3-0 win over Brighton before the break. This result came out of the blue with the Gunners looking to continue this season as they finished last with four straight wins. Leeds could be on the receiving end, although this is a very different outfit to the one that looked like rabbits in the headlights in their first away game since promotion last season. On that occasion, Arsenal won 5-0. It should be much closer this time.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Leeds
Aston Villa – Brentford (15:00)
It was perhaps inevitable that Villa would start slowly due to the player trading that took place over the summer. Unai Emery has had to rebuild but the wily Spaniard is starting to get results with his side winning three of their last four in all competitions. They still sit in the lower reaches of the table and it’s certainly no ordinary task against a Brentford side who head to Villa Park unbeaten and still enjoying their 3-0 win over local rivals Chelsea last time out. Brentford have already secured draws on the road at Bournemouth and Leeds and here we have another one.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-2 Brentford
Chelsea – Bournemouth (15:00)
Xabi Alonso may have signed a four-year contract in May, but Chelsea ownership aren’t exactly famous for their patience. The big-spending Blues have gone three league games without a win and the form of their capitulation at the Gtech Community Stadium would not have gone unnoticed. Alonso remains on solid ground for now, but another setback against winless Bournemouth would increase the pressure on the former Real Madrid manager. Expectations are different at Bournemouth, but their new manager Marco Rose could also do with three points to prove he is a capable replacement for Andoni Iraola.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth
Ipswich-Fulham (3pm)
Alonso doesn’t have to look far to find someone who knows what he’s going through. His close friend Alvaro Arbeloa is experiencing similar problems at Fulham and this already looks like a high-pressure game. Fulham are still winless in mitigation, having had a difficult run of games to start the season, and that record needs to change sooner rather than later. A trip to Portman Road to face newly promoted Ipswich presents an opportunity but also a danger. The Tractor Boys are doing very well, sitting in mid-table with two wins so far. Another one here would see them break into the top 10 and leave Arbeloa looking over their shoulder.
Ipswich 2-1 Fulham
Sunderland – Brighton (3pm)
Brighton would have disliked the timing of the international break. They closed the first section of the season with a 5-0 win at Coventry and a 3-0 demolition of champions Arsenal. Now they must rediscover that groove as they head to the Stadium of Light. It’s been a fun start for Sunderland. Dismissed as decline fodder by most pundits, they’ve largely performed well, but haven’t had the results to back it up. Regis Le Bris’ men should have won at Brentford and could have at least managed a draw at Manchester City if not for a couple of controversial refereeing decisions. They need to start winning games before embarking on a hectic schedule in domestic and European competitions.
Prediction: Sunderland 2-2 Brighton
Manchester United – Tottenham (5.30pm)
According to Transfermarkt, these two teams have a combined value of almost £1.5 billion and yet have just one Premier League win between them. It’s a meager return for year after year of strong investments. There have been glimpses of progress, with United brushing aside Ipswich, while Spurs have kept clean sheets in two of their last three league games. We’re still grasping at straws, though. These two clubs should do much better. A draw here doesn’t help either, so…
Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Tottenham
SUNDAY
Crystal Palace – Nottingham Forest (2pm)
Palace fans yearning for the return of Oliver Glasner will get their wish this Sunday, in a way. The Austrian, who led the Eagles to three trophies in his short time in south London, will walk the touchline at Selhurst Park as the Nottingham Forest boss looks to add to the woes of successor Pierre Sage. Sage is struggling to assert his influence over the Palace squad and a win in five games is proof of that. Glasner hasn’t exactly broken it at Forest either. Six of the previous seven games between these two have ended in draws.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Hull – Everton (14:00)
Hull’s unbeaten return to the top flight ended at Newcastle last time out, but the Tigers’ performance deserved more and offered another indication they could be here to stay. His style is pragmatic but gets results, a point you could also make about Everton. The Toffees were never going to win awards for style under David Moyes, but the Scot has turned them into top-half contenders after taking over a team more used to relegation battles. It’s unlikely to be for the purists.
Prediction: Hull 0-1 Everton
Liverpool – Manchester City (4.30pm)
If you had to pick one ground that Manchester City would have chosen to avoid this weekend, it would be Anfield. The Independent Commission’s verdict that City were guilty of more than 100 financial breaches (the club has appealed and denied any wrongdoing) did not go down well on Merseyside and we will never know what Liverpool would have gained had the conditions been level. This has inevitably generated a hostility that will be full blown when Enzo Maresca and his players, who are all innocent of the crimes, rise at the weekend. If City can block out the noise, they should be good enough to beat a Liverpool side still finding their feet under Iraola. It’s a big yes…
Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City
MONDAY
Coventry – Newcastle (8pm)
Coventry’s win at Nottingham Forest before the international break was their first in the Premier League for 25 years, but Frank Lampard’s overriding emotion must have been relief rather than joy. His side had not looked equipped for top-flight football until their trip to the City Ground and the challenge now is to maintain that level against a Newcastle side who have started strongly. Dig deeper, though, and the underlying metrics suggest that Matthias Jaissle still has a lot going for him.
Prediction: Coventry 2-1 Newcastle
