Welcome back to the Premier League. As we head into Sunday's fixtures, the early season drama is already at a fever pitch. With teams jostling for position at the top and others desperate to kickstart their campaigns, today promises to be a day of high stakes and high-octane football. We've got a blockbuster clash at Anfield, a test of character for the champions, and a battle of two teams looking to find their footing.
Match 1: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Manchester City
Kick-off: 15:00 BST
After a shock defeat last weekend, Manchester City arrive at the Amex Stadium looking to get their title defense back on track. Pep Guardiola's side currently sits in 11th place, an unfamiliar sight for the reigning champions. They will face a Brighton side that has yet to secure a win this season but has shown signs of promise under new manager Fabian Hürzeler.
Team News & Form: Manchester City will be boosted by the return of Rayan Ait-Nouri, who is fit to feature after an early withdrawal last week. However, they will still be without Joško Gvardiol and Mateo Kovačić. Brighton, meanwhile, will be missing a few key players, including the long-term absentee Adam Webster, and may be without Georginio Rutter, who is closing in on a return from a knock.
Brighton's recent form of one point from two games doesn't tell the full story. They have an impressive xG (expected goals) figure of 3.8 but have been inefficient in front of goal. City, on the other hand, have a league-leading xG of 4.0, but their finishing has let them down.
Head-to-Head & Prediction: In a surprising twist, Brighton were undefeated against City last season, winning 2-1 at home and drawing 2-2 at the Etihad. However, City have scored at least twice in ten of their last thirteen meetings with the Seagulls. All signs point to a high-scoring affair. Our prediction models project a high probability of a Manchester City win, but with a potential for a 1-1 draw as the most likely score. This is a game of fine margins, but we're tipping City to narrowly edge it.
Match 2: Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham United
Kick-off: 14:00 BST
Nottingham Forest welcomes a struggling West Ham side to the City Ground in a fixture that could see them climb into the top five of the table. Forest have started the season in fine fettle, with a win and a draw in their first two matches, and sit comfortably in eighth. West Ham, however, are rooted to the bottom of the table, having lost both of their opening games and conceded eight goals.
Team News & Form: Nottingham Forest are in excellent spirits, with their new signings and tactical approach under manager Nuno Espírito Santo clearly paying off. Their solid defensive displays and attacking flair, particularly from Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White, have been key to their success. West Ham, on the other hand, are in a rut. Their defence has been leaky, and they have struggled to create chances. They are in desperate need of a result to boost morale.
Head-to-Head & Prediction: Recent history strongly favors Forest, who have won the last three encounters between the two sides. Given West Ham's current woes and Forest's strong momentum at home, this looks to be a straightforward prediction. We expect Forest to continue their strong start to the season and pile more pressure on their visitors.
Match 3: Liverpool vs. Arsenal
Kick-off: 16:30 BST
This is the one we've all been waiting for. Last season's top two go head-to-head at Anfield, both with perfect starts to the season. Liverpool sit in fourth place with six points, while Arsenal are just above them in second, also with six points. The psychological blow of a victory here could be immense.
Team News & Form: Liverpool have been scoring goals for fun, leading the league with seven goals in two games. However, their defence has been alarmingly porous, conceding four goals. They've twice surrendered two-goal leads, a worrying sign for the defending champions. Arsenal's defence, in contrast, has been unbreakable, yet they've had to navigate some significant injury issues, with Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz among those out of the team.
Head-to-Head & Prediction: This fixture rarely disappoints, with both of last season's league meetings ending in 2-2 draws. Liverpool haven't lost to Arsenal at Anfield in the Premier League since 2012, a stat that will surely give them confidence. However, given Liverpool's defensive frailties and Arsenal's solid backline, this match could be a barnburner. A draw is a very likely outcome, and a 3-3 scoreline wouldn't be out of the question. We're predicting a thrilling draw, with both teams eager to land a psychological blow but ultimately cancelling each other out.
Match 4: Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace
Kick-off: 19:00 BST
The final match of the day sees two European representatives looking for their first league win. Aston Villa have drawn one and lost one of their opening games and have yet to score a goal. Crystal Palace have secured two draws and will be hoping to turn a point into three.
Team News & Form: Aston Villa are missing several key players, including Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley, and Andres Garcia. Their offensive struggles are a significant concern, with the team failing to find the net in their first two matches. Crystal Palace, who are competing in the Conference League, have been defensively sound but have also struggled for goals, with only one in their first two league games.
Head-to-Head & Prediction: Crystal Palace have an impressive unbeaten run of five games against Aston Villa, a streak they'll be keen to extend. Given both teams' difficulties in front of goal, this is likely to be a low-scoring, cagey affair. We're predicting a draw, with the most likely scoreline being 1-1.
Premier League Table (as of August 31, 2025)
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chelsea | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 7 |
2 | Arsenal | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 6 |
3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 6 |
4 | Liverpool | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 6 |
5 | Everton | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 6 |
6 | Sunderland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 6 |
7 | AFC Bournemouth | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
8 | Nottingham Forest | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 4 |
9 | Manchester United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
10 | Leeds United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 4 |
11 | Manchester City | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 3 |
12 | Burnley | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 3 |
13 | Brentford | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
14 | Crystal Palace | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
15 | Newcastle United | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 2 |
16 | Fulham | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 2 |
17 | Aston Villa | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
18 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 1 |
19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 0 |
20 | West Ham United | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | -7 |