EPL Week 4 Picks: Previewing Key Matchups in Next Weekend's Schedule

Leigh WalshJun 7, 2018

Premier League managers will have their toes and fingers crossed in the hope their players return from international duty unscathed.

Here's a look at what to expect when the Premier League returns next weekend...

Manchester United v Crystal Palace

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Chelsea v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Final

Saturday, 14 September: KO - 12:45

The last time these two sides met at Old Trafford two years ago, a pile driver from the boot of Darren Ambrose (re-live it here Palace fans) and a free kick from Glenn Murray made the difference as Crystal Palace secured a stunning upset in the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup.

A lot has changed since then.

Ambrose now togs out for Birmingham, Murray, who was the top goal scorer in the Championship last year, is out with injury and two new managers—with very different points to prove—occupy the dugouts on either side of the half-way line.

Undoubtedly, David Moyes will be hoping to do his talking on the pitch after the drama that surrounded the club during deadline day.

The Manchester United manager and newly-appointed chief executive Ed Woodward came in for criticism for the way they handled the club’s transfer dealings over the summer, but they will be hopeful that their sole purchase, Marouane Fellaini, will give the champions that extra bite in midfield that they have been lacking in recent years.

United will also be hoping to see the return of both Wayne Rooney and Rafael.

Rooney sustained a head injury in training, which put him out of the Liverpool match and both England qualifiers, while the Brazilian right back was ruled out for a month after picking up a hamstring injury in the Community Shield victory over Wigan.

Crystal Palace kick started their season by picking up their first win at home to Sunderland. Dwight Gayle, called the biggest gamble of the transfer window by Matt Law in the Daily Mirror, broke his Premier League duck from the penalty spot in the 3-1 victory.

But while Palace brought in reinforcements going forward, they still look fragile at the back and it’s difficult to envision a scenario when Ian Holloway’s side come away from Old Trafford with anything to show.

Manchester United 3 Crystal Palace 0

Tottenham v Norwich City

Saturday, 14 September: KO – 15:00

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has rightly been lauded for his astute transfer dealings over the summer, but with so many new faces at White Hart Lane it will inevitably take time for the new boys to move in tandem with one another.

Last season, Spurs were over reliant on individual moments of brilliance from Gareth Bale, but this season they will need to work as a team. They looked stagnant against a free-flowing Arsenal in the North London derby, but late signings Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen should help in this regard.

The Canaries pocketed four points in their opening three fixtures and they conducted some good business over the past few months, bringing in record-signing Ricky Van Wolfswinkel, Nathan Redmond and Leroy Fer. They offer a threat going forward, but they struggled on their travels last season picking up just two wins away from Carrow Road.

These are the type of fixtures that Tottenham need to be picking up three points from if they are to seriously challenge for the title, or a Champions League spot at the very least.

With only two goals from the penalty spot in their opening three games, Andre Villas Boas will be hoping his side begins clicking sooner rather than later, and if it comes together by the time they entertain Norwich then they should come away with the win.

Tottenham 2 Norwich City 1

Everton v Chelsea

Saturday, 14 September: KO – 17:30

Arsenal’s signing of Mesut Ozil dominated the headlines on transfer deadline day but it could be argued that Roberto Martinez at Everton conducted the day’s best business.

Despite losing Fellaini to Manchester United, Everton snatched Romelu Lukaku from under the nose of WBA, they secured the signature of highly-regarded Irish youngster James McCarthy and they added experience in the form of Manchester City’s Gareth Barry.

Everton, who have failed to score in their last two matches, will, however, be without Lukaku for the visit of Chelsea due to the terms of the loan agreement. So, they will have to turn to either Arouna Kone or the out-of-form Nikica Jelavic for goals.

Chelsea, who looked scintillating in the first half of their match with Hull City on the opening day of the season, offered little in the way of an attacking threat against Manchester United, but Jose Mourinho will likely set his stall up differently at Everton.

Two Frank Lampard goals were the difference in the same tie last year and Chelsea will be favourites to take home three points once more. They have an abundance of riches in midfield but Blues fans will be hoping one of their three strikers – Fernando Torres, Demba Ba or Samuel Eto’o – starts finding the net soon.

Everton 0 Chelsea 2

Sunderland v Arsenal

Saturday, 14 September: KO – 15:00

Sunderland 1 Arsenal 3

Fulham v West Brom

Saturday, 14 September: KO – 15:00

Fulham 2 West Brom 2

Aston Villa v Newcastle

Saturday, 14 September: KO – 15:00

Aston Villa 2 Newcastle 1

Hull City v Cardiff City

Saturday, 14 September: KO – 15:00