The new 2023/24 English Premier League (EPL) enters its 2nd match day this weekend with the expectation of more drama.
Recall that the new Premier League campaign started last week Friday as Manchester City defeated Burnley 3-0.
takes a look at some of the talking points in the week second Premier League matches which started on Friday night to end on Monday evening.
Tottenham vs Manchester United:
Fans are keen to see who will drop points between both teams. This is the biggest Premier League fixture this weekend. Man United won 1-0 in their first Premier League opener, while Tottenham drew 2-2 against Brentford.
Tottenham’s home clash against Manchester United will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by 5.30 pm. Tottenham currently sits in ninth position on the Premier League table with a point, while Man United are in seventh place with three points.
Spurs, of course, will be without their record-highest goal scorer Harry Kane, who has since left the club to join Bayern Munich this summer.
Manchester United have a good historical record against Tottenham and have won 96 out of the 199 games played between both teams, as opposed to Tottenham’s 53 victories.
Arsenal’s two Premier League matches rescheduled:
The Premier League rescheduled two of Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea. This is coming ahead of Arsenal’s away clash with Crystal Palace on Monday night. Mikel Arteta’s side will now play Manchester City on October 8 at the Emirates Stadium.
CRIME CHANNELS reports that it is the first league meeting between last season’s top two. Earlier this month, the Gunners saw off Pep Guardiola’s side on penalties to win the Community Shield. After the Man City tie, Arsenal will two weeks later head to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. While that game will still take place on Saturday, October 21, it will now kick off at a later time of 5.30 pm.
The TV amendments have now been completed for all of October’s matches in the Premier League. However, as always, fixtures are still subject to change.
How Manchester City will cope without playmaker Kevin de Bruyne:
Manchester City could be without their playmaker Kevin de Bruyne for at least the next four months due to a recurring hamstring injury. De Bruyne has suffered a serious injury that could see him sidelined for a lengthy period.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola had already admitted that the Belgian could not be replaced in his squad but insisted that they have other good players who can play in his position. De Bruyne was in superb form for Guardiola’s side last season and he was recently named in the final three-man nominees for the 2022/23 UEFA Men’s Best Player award alongside teammates Erling Haaland and Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi.
Meanwhile, Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand has since urged Man City to sign West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta to temporarily replace De Bruyne. On his part, Former Tottenham star, Darren Bent believes other Manchester City stars will have to step up in De Bruyne’s absence.
PFA Player of the Year nominations:
Manchester City and Arsenal players have dominated the PFA Players’ Player of the Year nominations that were recently released. Premier League players are meant to vote for who wins the award from the six-person shortlist. The shortlist has three players from Manchester City, which include Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones.
Arsenal, last season’s Premier League title runners-up, have Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard on the shortlist.
Harry Kane, who is now a Bayern Munich player, after completing a switch to the Bundesliga champions from Tottenham Hotspur this summer, also made the six-man list. DAILY POST reports that the winner of the award will be announced on August 29.
Expectations as Mason Greenwood awaits final decision from Manchester United:
Mason Greenwood is currently awaiting a final decision from Manchester United regarding his future at the club amid the new Premier League campaign. Manchester United’s COO, Collette Roche, recently gave an update on investigations that would determine Greenwood’s future at Old Trafford. Roche stated that Man United have performed a “detailed and thorough internal investigation” following Greenwood’s dropped criminal charges.
Greenwood, who is currently on suspension by Man United, has not played for the Red Devils since he was arrested in January 2022 for attempted rape, assault and coercive control. But the 21-year-old England star had his charges dropped in February this year and awaits the verdict from Man United over his return.
Meanwhile, Greenwood’s Manchester United teammates would support his return to the squad, according to the UK Sun.
They believe Greenwood deserves a second chance
