Premier League Fixtures: Live Stream, TV Schedule and Week 8 EPL Predictions
The latest chapter in the long-term rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United will be written under the lights at Anfield on Monday evening.
Itโs one of two fascinating clashes that bookend Week 8 of the Premier League season. The other, at Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime, will see Chelsea welcome reigning champions Leicester City; after inconsistent starts for both sides, three points are vital.
Elsewhere, table-toppers Manchester City host fast-starting Everton, while Arsenal welcome struggling Swansea City to the Emirates Stadium.
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Here are the key viewing details for the weekendโs Premier League games, a prediction for each and a closer look at a couple of vital contests.
| Saturday, Oct. 15 | 12:30 p.m. | Chelsea vs. Leicester | 2-1 | Sky Sports 1 (U.K.), NBC Sports (U.S.) |
| Saturday, Oct. 15 | 3 p.m. | Arsenal vs. Swansea | 3-1 | NBC Sports (U.S.) |
| Saturday, Oct. 15 | 3 p.m. | Bournemouth vs. Hull | 2-1 | NBC Sports (U.S.) |
| Saturday, Oct. 15 | 3 p.m. | Man City vs. Everton | 2-1 | NBC Sports (U.S.) |
| Saturday, Oct. 15 | 3 p.m. | Stoke City vs. Sunderland | 1-0 | NBC Sports (U.S.) |
| Saturday, Oct. 15 | 3 p.m. | West Brom vs. Tottenham | 0-2 | NBC Sports (U.S.) |
| Saturday, Oct. 15 | 5:30 p.m. | Crystal Palace vs. West Ham | 2-2 | BT Sport 1 (U.K.), NBC Sports (U.S.) |
| Sunday, Oct. 16 | 1:30 p.m. | Middlesbrough vs. Watford | 1-2 | Sky Sports 1 (U.K.), NBC Sports (U.S.) |
| Sunday, Oct. 16 | 4 p.m. | Southampton vs. Burnley | 2-0 | Sky Sports 1 (U.K.), NBC Sports (U.S.) |
| Monday, Oct. 17 | 8 p.m. | Liverpool vs. Man United | 2-2 | Sky Sports 1 (U.K.), NBC Sports (U.S.) |
Respective matches can be streamed via the BT Sport website (U.K.), Sky Go (U.K.) and NBCSN (U.S.)
Chelsea vs. Leicester City
On the cusp of this clash at Stamford Bridge between the last two winners of the Premier League, it feels as though both Chelsea and Leicester need a result to trigger them into action.
The Blues have come up short in their marquee matches so far, outplayed by both Liverpool and then comprehensively by Arsenal. Manager Antonio Conte has had a positive impact at the club so far, although his Chelsea revolution has yet to gather much momentum.
A win over the champions would be the biggest scalp of Conteโs tenure to date. However, as noted by Sky Sportsโ Kaveh Solhekol, the Italian has had to endure some peculiar speculation ahead of this one:
His opposite number, Claudio Ranieri, has been unable to extract the same standards from his players this term. The attacking verve that was so potent in 2015-16 has been tough to find, while defensively his side has disintegrated on the road a couple of times in big matches.
Indeed, Leicester have lost all three of their away games so far this term, conceding four goals in visits to Liverpool and Manchester United. Part of that is likely due to the absence of midfield dynamo NโGolo Kante, who was snapped up by the Blues during the summer.
Even though the French international has impressed at Stamford Bridge, Bleacher Reportโs Sam Tighe believes they could be getting more from him:
There were signs against Hull City last time out that Chelsea were making steady improvements, while theyโve already registered a win over Leicester in the League Cup this season. Given the championsโ woes on the road, expect Conteโs side to start this vital run of fixtures with a win.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Leicester
Liverpool vs. Manchester United
Matches between these two eternal enemies are always key, although this one feels as though itโs a potentially significant marker for both Liverpool and United.
Should the hosts win, there can be no doubt of their title credentials. Already the Reds have gone toe-to-toe with most of the top sides in the division, bettering the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Leicester along the way. Three points against a strong United outfit would point to a team thatโs here for the duration.
Manager Jurgen Klopp has inspired this team in the opening weeks of the season, with the men in red exhibiting some tremendous football. These numbers from OptaJoe sum up the impact heโs had:
The man in the opposition dugout, Jose Mourinho, hasnโt had time to fully formulate his United master plan yet.
During the summer, the Red Devils went big in the transfer market, bringing in the likes of Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Since, weโve since glimpses of tremendous football and untamed genius from these mercurial figures, although consistency has been tough to nail down.
Given United arenโt as advanced in their development as the Reds, Mourinho will be looking to his key individuals to swing this one the way of the visitors. The manager himself, previously so shrewd in these titanic tussles, will need to formulate a game plan that can limit the opponents' attacking threat.
A fervent crowd, Anfield under lights and some of the best players in the division is a recipe for a memorable evening on Monday. Liverpool will play a pugnacious and purposeful brand of football, although expect the Red Devils, who will be organised and industrious, to take a point from the clash.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Manchester United
