Ten KEY questions for Matchweek 7's fixtures

Can Chelsea take advantage of midweek rest against unbeaten Everton?

Before a ball had been kicked, pundits proclaimed that Chelsea’s greatest advantage in their debut campaign under Xabi Alonso would be free midweeks while their rivals exhaust themselves in Europe.

This week is the very first time that theory is tested.

During the first round of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches, in early September, Chelsea had an EFL Cup tie against Leeds United on the Wednesday. This week, as Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City played in Europe, Chelsea had a rest.

In other words, we are about to find out whether that scenario will play out; whether Chelsea, who are only five points off the top of the Premier League table, can use those extra rests to hone their tactics, find cohesion on the training field and out-run their opponents.

The last time Chelsea won the title, in 2016/17, they appeared to benefit significantly from free midweeks under Antonio Conte. They gained 10 points from their first five matches – like this season – and, in fact, even lost their sixth game … before accelerating away over the next eight months.

Saturday’s trip to Everton is a massive game, then. And rested or not, it won’t be easy for Chelsea.

Everton are one of three teams still unbeaten in the Premier League this season. They have conceded the joint-fewest goals (five). Chelsea have conceded the joint-most (13).

But if Chelsea’s 5-1 win against AFC Bournemouth last weekend was the moment things clicked under Alonso, they can prove their major advantage this season — those match-free midweeks — will put them in the title mix.

Can Baleba help Man Utd combat Leeds’ tough-tackling midfield?

Manchester United are on a five-game winless run in all competitions following the 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night. It has been a troubled start to the first serious fixture congestion of the Michael Carrick era.

In the 128 days between Carrick’s first match as head coach in February and his final one of the season in May, Man Utd played 17 games (all in the Premier League), averaging a match every 7.5 days.

Between last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur and a home game against Aston Villa on 8 November, Man Utd play eight matches in 30 days, or once every 3.75 days – exactly twice as frequently as they did under Carrick in 2025/26.

Man Utd need to find a way to pick up more points but as the games come thick and fast, that will get ever more difficult to achieve.

The biggest positive from Saturday’s draw with Spurs was the cameo performance of substitute Carlos Baleba, who, in theory, will toughen up the Man Utd midfield.

That is certainly what they need against a fierce Leeds side.

Leeds are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League home games and for the first time since September 2002, they will begin a match against Man Utd from a higher league position than their opponents. Daniel Farke's tough-tackling team (they rank second in the division for pressed sequences, with 76) can also take confidence from winning the clubs' last meeting, at Old Trafford in April, when they triumphed 2-1 to end a 10-game winless run against their rivals.

But if Baleba can out-battle Leeds midfielders, setting the tone, then perhaps an emboldened Man Utd will become more ruthless in front of goal. They have had the most shots (125) and the most touches in the opposition box (205), yet have scored only nine times.

Sort out their finishing and Man Utd can avoid extending what is already their worst start to a Premier League season since 1986/87.

Can Liverpool and Iraola get back on track against bullish Brentford?

Liverpool have won just nine points from their first six matches, their lowest return since 2022/23, when they had the same record at this stage and finished in fifth place. Andoni Iraola would have hoped for a better start, then, especially with that elusive first league win at Anfield still to come.

That makes Saturday’s fixture even more ominous. To get back on track this weekend, his side will need to overcome recent history.

Brentford, who host Liverpool while sitting above them in the table for the first time since 1938, were unbeaten in their two Premier League games against Liverpool last season, collecting four points.

What’s more, Brentford are the opposition team who Iraola has the lowest points-per-game against, picking up just two draws and no victories from six meetings as Bournemouth head coach. That suggests his high-energy and high-pressing football comes unstuck against the Bees' bullish defensive mentality.

In fairness, most clubs come unstuck against it. Indeed, Brentford are their usual stubborn selves this season, unbeaten in the Premier League so far.

Will Villa's new-look frontline profit against leaky Newcastle?

Judging by how Villa and Newcastle United have started the season, this will be a brilliant game with plenty of goals.

Newcastle have conceded 13 goals so far (their third-most ever at this stage in a Premier League season), have gone 12 consecutive matches without a clean sheet at St James' Park and have conceded the joint-most goals of any Premier League team in 2026 (44).

Villa have let in 11 goals, their most at this stage of a top-flight season since 1986/87 and this weekend face a defensive problem with both senior left-backs, Ian Maatsen and Matteo Ruggeri, out injured.

That is good news for Newcastle's right winger Jacob Murphy, especially since Villa concede more attacks down that side than their right or the centre. However, with only one of the Magpies' 10 league goals so far being scored by a striker, Yoane Wissa, perhaps the more enticing prospect is the Yohan Manzambi-Nicolas Jackson partnership for Villa at the other end.

Manzambi and Jackson were strong in Villa’s 2-2 draw with Brentford and scored the first three goals between them in the 6-0 Champions League win over Fenerbahce, so they could terrorise the Newcastle defence. Whatever happens, there will be goals.

Is Hull contest Fulham's biggest game of the season?

Alvaro Arbeloa is breaking unwanted records. Fulham are winless from their first six matches in the Premier League, last having a longer run in the top flight in 1951/52. As for home matches, they last failed to win more than their first three back in 1966/67.

The beginning of a three-game sequence against the promoted clubs was billed as a crucial period in their campaign, given Fulham’s difficult start, and so Ipswich Town’s stoppage-time winner last weekend was a major blow.

It is vital, then, that Fulham finally get that first win when they host Hull City. Despite racing out of the blocks on their return to the Premier League, the visitors are now on a four-game winless run, conceding two goals in each of their last three matches.

You could even argue this is Fulham’s biggest game of the season. On paper, games don’t get more winnable than this, and if Arbeloa's team lose it, they would remain bottom of the Premier League table with only one promoted club left to play.

Can Maresca secure Man City’s best-ever start to a Premier League season?

Man City’s 3-0 victory at Liverpool last Sunday was a stunning result that maintained the club’s 100% record under Enzo Maresca, a manager already surprising many observers.

Maresca is seen to be a possession-based coach who believes in slower football to control the variables but against Liverpool he took a significantly more direct route to goal, going long to Erling Haaland and embracing the counter-attack.

That level of tactical tinkering convinced Man City that Maresca would be the perfect replacement for Pep Guardiola. So far, they have been proved right.

Man City have won each of their first six Premier League games of the season. They haven’t won their first seven league matches since 1897/98, when they were in the old Second Division and drew their eighth match against Man Utd (then known as Newton Heath).

That record is likely to be equalled this weekend, given that Ipswich – despite an excellent start – have struggled defensively against the "big six" clubs. Including a 4-2 EFL Cup defeat to Arsenal, Ipswich have lost three from three so far, conceding 11 goals in the process (five against Man Utd, two against Liverpool).

Can Glasner's defensive coaching frustrate Arsenal yet again?

Arsenal and their hosts Nottingham Forest have the two best-performing defences in the Premier League this season in terms of Expected Goals Conceded (xGC), with 4.66 and 7.21 respectively. When you also consider their last two meetings at the City Ground in the Premier League have both ended 0-0, you might not be expecting this to be the best game of the weekend.

Oliver Glasner would likely be satisfied with another 0-0 draw, although he will also be aware that Forest must improve their record in front of goal, because Forest’s results so far are not matching their performances.

Forest’s shots (17.7), Expected Goals (xG) tally of 1.72, touches in the opposition box (27.3) and big chances (3.5) per match are all at their highest levels in any of their last five seasons – and yet, with a conversion rate of just 4.7%, they have underscored against their 6.6xG by 3.6 goals.

Ruthlessness will be required, of course, to breach the champions' defence. Judging by their recent record visiting the City Ground, the same can be said for Arsenal’s forwards.

Does Coventry’s winning streak spell trouble for winless Spurs?

Coventry City’s explosive 4-1 win against Newcastle on Monday night prompted a huge emotional outpouring from supporters who have waited 25 years to witness a Premier League win at home.

It was also vindication of Frank Lampard’s methods as Coventry came out on top in a ding-dong battle of physicality and counter-attacks.

Coventry have the second-lowest pass completion rate (76.3%) and the second-lowest possession share (37.9%), while they top the charts for percentage of passes that go forward (41.5%).

This kind of football could be a problem for Spurs, who have drawn 0-0 with both Forest and Everton this season because Roberto De Zerbi’s football relies upon even battles against hard-pressing teams.

Low blocks, and teams who gift his side possession, can stump Spurs.

Who needs the win more as Bournemouth host Sunderland?

Sunderland and Bournemouth, in 17th and 18th place respectively, would not have foreseen their seasons starting as they have done.

Bournemouth are eight points worse off than they were at this stage in 2025/26, the joint-biggest drop-off, while Sunderland are only marginally better: seven worse off.

It is very difficult to say who needs the win more. On the one hand, Bournemouth head coach Marco Rose needs a strong beginning to his tenure and will be concerned by a winless start in the Premier League. On the other, Sunderland’s three-game losing streak is their joint worst run under Regis Le Bris.

Both clubs are in the same position; if they want to avoid a relegation battle this season, they need results to turn around soon.

Will Palace’s defensive issues give rivals Brighton a chance at redemption?

Brighton & Hove Albion have lost their last two home games against rivals Crystal Palace and three of their last four in the Premier League. Clearly, Palace have the upper hand in this fixture.

But if ever that was going to change, it's this weekend. Not only are Brighton the top scorers in the division with 18 goals, averaging three per match, but Palace have faced the most shots in the division (108).

And if Brighton can get the confidence boost of beating their nemesis, it will only further raise the prospect that this will be a season to remember. There’s an argument to be made that Fabian Hurzeler has found his feet as their young head coach and is building something special.

Following a strong final third of last season, Brighton have now won 35 points from their last 18 Premier League matches, a points-per-game average of 1.94. If that was extrapolated over a full 38-match campaign, they would win 73 points, enough to finish third last season.