Premier League weekend preview | EPL Schedule
After a rampant opening three gameweeks, Premier League sides prepare for the final outing before the season's first international break commences on September 5. Thus far, current European champions Liverpool lead the table with 100% win record, garnering nine points in their first three fixtures.
Defending champions Manchester City already find themselves chasing their closest competitors Liverpool, owing to a dramatic 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. For their fourth league game, Pep Guardiola's Blue army hosts Brighton at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Despite annihilating Chelsea 4-0 in the opening weekend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United finds themselves in an awkward situation after suffering a shock loss to Crystal Palace after drawing to Wolves at The Molineux. The Red Devils make a trip to St. Mary's Stadium for their fourth game against Southampton.
Frank Lampard, after his first victory as the Chelsea coach, will try to build momentum as his side face new-comers Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge.
On the opposite end of the league table, last season's FA Cup finalists Watford seek their first victory of the campaign after losing all of their opening games. Javi Gracia is in a race against time to save his job at the London club.
In spite of just two fixtures on September 1, the fourth game week is capped off by a Super Sunday fixture as Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur lock horns at the Emirates Stadium in the North London Derby.
Coming into this high-voltage clash, both teams have suffered disappointing losses in the previous gameweek, as the Gunners failed against Liverpool at Anfield while Newcastle United took all three points against Tottenham, courtesy a 1-0 win away from home.
We are just three gameweeks into the Premier League and VAR is subject to intense scrutiny, following a string of controversial decisions, be it cancellation of Gabriel Jesus' last-gasp winner against Spurs or disputable calls on Harry Kane and Anthony Martial's penalty claim.
However, it would be intriguing to witness how technology fares in the upcoming Premier League gameweek.
Premier League Fixtures
Saturday, August 31
Southampton vs Manchester United - 5:00 p.m.
Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa - 7:30 p.m
Chelsea vs Sheffield United- 7:30 p.m.
Newcastle United vs Watford - 7:30 p.m
Manchester City vs Brighton - 7:30 p.m.
West Ham vs Norwich City - 7:30 p.m.
Leicester City vs Bournemouth - 7:30 p.m.
Burnley vs Liverpool - 10:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 1
Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers - 6:30 p.m.
Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur - 9:00 p.m.
Note: All the kickoff timings are mentioned in IST (GMT+ 4:30).