Premier League Round 2 Highlights: Red Devils Face Tough Away Test, Gunners Seek Revenge

Premier League Week 2 Preview

Brighton vs Manchester United - Saturday, August 24, 12:30 PM

This weekend, Manchester United will kick off the second round of the Premier League with an away match against Brighton. In their opening match, United secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Fulham thanks to Zirkzee’s last-minute goal. Meanwhile, the Seagulls, under new coach Hjulmand, convincingly defeated Everton 3-0. Now, the two teams meet, and only one can continue their winning streak.

Despite not being among the league's top teams, Brighton has troubled Manchester United in recent years, winning four out of their last five league encounters, including a 4-0 thrashing. Last season, the two sides split the points in their meetings, so the Red Devils must be wary of this tricky opponent once again.

Both Brighton and Manchester United are dealing with significant injury problems, with players like Højlund, Luke Shaw, Malacia, and Amad Diallo sidelined. If Ten Hag gives the green light, Sancho, who missed the last match due to an ear infection, may return to the squad.

Manchester City vs Ipswich Town - Saturday, August 24, 3:00 PM

On Saturday evening, Manchester City will return to their home ground to face newly-promoted Ipswich Town. After earning promotion, Ipswich faces a tough start to the season with back-to-back matches against Liverpool and Manchester City, likely bracing for consecutive defeats. City, on the other hand, began their campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win over Chelsea, and Guardiola’s side will be confident against this weaker opponent.

Rodri is expected to return for City this weekend. Although Kovacic impressed in midfield during the victory over Chelsea, Rodri remains the most reliable option in that position. Additionally, Haaland, who topped the Premier League scoring charts in the past two seasons, opened his account in the first match and will be looking to add more goals as he chases another Golden Boot.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton - Saturday, August 24, 3:00 PM

Saturday evening sees Tottenham Hotspur hosting Everton. The first match of the season was disappointing for both teams, with Spurs being held to a 1-1 draw by newly-promoted Leicester City, while Everton suffered a 3-0 defeat to Brighton. Historically, Spurs have had the upper hand, with their last league loss to Everton occurring four years ago. Last season, they won at home and drew away, giving them a good chance to secure their first win of the season this weekend.

Postecoglou, who took over last summer, has improved Spurs' position, but they have still missed out on the top four for two consecutive seasons. With upcoming matches against Newcastle and Arsenal, Spurs need to find their form quickly, or they risk a winless start to the first four rounds. Such an outcome would be a far cry from their strong start last season and would be hard for fans to accept.

Aston Villa vs Arsenal - Saturday, August 25, 5:30 PM

In the early hours of Sunday morning, Arsenal will travel to Villa Park, aiming for revenge. Last season, under former Arsenal manager Unai Emery, Aston Villa became the only team to beat Arsenal twice, winning both matches without conceding. The Gunners finished the season as runners-up, just one point behind the champions, and the six points lost to Villa were particularly painful.

Arsenal's goal this season remains the league title, and they need to be wary of Villa, who have proven to be tough opponents. On the player front, Havertz’s goal and assist in the opening match helped Arsenal secure a win. After a year under Arteta’s guidance, the German’s abilities have noticeably improved, contributing 10 goals and 7 assists in his last 15 league appearances. He will be keen to continue his good form and make another impact this weekend.

Wolves vs Chelsea - Sunday, August 25, 2:00 PM

On Sunday evening, Chelsea will travel to face Wolves, looking to secure three points. Both teams endured tough starts to the new season last weekend, with Chelsea losing 2-0 to Manchester City and Wolves falling by the same scoreline to Arsenal. Given the strength of their opponents, these results were not entirely unexpected. Last season, Chelsea had a habit of struggling against lower-ranked teams, suffering two defeats to 14th-placed Wolves and winning only one of their last seven encounters.

This summer, Chelsea signed forward Neto from Wolves, who will now face his former club. Additionally, new signing João Félix, who recently joined from Atlético Madrid, may make his debut in this match, marking his second stint at Stamford Bridge. Sterling was left out of the squad for the first match, with coach Maresca citing tactical reasons, but their relationship appears strained. How the team handles Sterling this weekend will be worth watching.

Liverpool vs Brentford - Sunday, August 25, 4:30 PM

On Sunday night, Liverpool will host Brentford at Anfield. Despite a summer without any significant reinforcements, the Reds secured their first win of the season last weekend, beating Ipswich Town 2-0, while Brentford edged out Crystal Palace 2-1. Last season, Liverpool did the double over the Bees, winning both home and away.

In the opener against Ipswich, Liverpool did not dominate as expected, with new coach Slot making a slow start in his Premier League debut. Star player Salah also struggled to find his rhythm in the first half but came alive in the second, providing a goal and an assist to secure the three points. This weekend, Liverpool will play their first home game of the season, and with the support of the Anfield crowd, they will be looking to secure a more convincing victory.