The English Premier League enters week six this weekend, with Manchester clubs, City and United set to continue their battle for supremacy.
City and United have set the pace so far in the five weeks old league, with Pep Guardiola side sitting atop the league standing.
But while City are currently the leaders, there’s been nothing to separate both neighbors in terms of points, goals scored and conceded at this point of the season.
Will that change this weekend, when City host bottom side, Crystal Palace, who are still pointless having lost all their games so far, at the Etihad, while United travel to St. Mary’s to tackle Southampton?
Both City and United were involved in the third round of the Carabao Cup in midweek, and used that opportunity to rest some key players, who will obviously return this weekend, though both managers might still want rotate their squads with their eyes on the Champions League coming up next week.
Elsewhere, West Ham United host Tottenham at the Olympic Stadium, with both sides hoping to return to winning ways following their draws last week.
A trip to take on the Hammers hasn’t always been an easy task for Mauricio Pochettino’s men, as they have lost on three of their last four trips there.
While Spurs have been the better side this season, the Hammers are slowly finding their feet, having taken four points from a possible six in their last two.
Burnley vs Huddersfield
Huddersfield have had a brilliant start to life in the English top flight since their promotion, having lost just one of their opening five matches.
This weekend they travel to Turf Moor, where Burnley are indeed a ‘turf’ proposition for any side, as they have won 75 percent of their points in the PL at home.
It is the first time these two are meeting in the PL, but the home side have always dominated the encounters between them, having won 11 of the 19 matches both sides have played compared to their visitors’ 3.
Everton vs Bournemouth
Everton will fancy their chances to finally put a stop to a run of three games without a win in the PL when they host Bournemouth at Goodison Park.
The Toffees have lost their last three matches in the league, including the 4-0 thrashing against Man Utd at Old Trafford on Sunday.
However, this weekend, they face the Cherries, who finally registered their first points of the campaign following a 2-1 defeat of Brighton last weekend.
Stoke City vs Chelsea
Champions Chelsea have a tricky tie against a Stoke City side looking to bounce back from their loss in week five, at the Bet365 stadium, where the Potters have taken four points from Arsenal and Man United this season.
However, in the Blues, Mark Hughes’ side face a team they have recorded their most losses (13) against in the PL and will be hoping for a better outing this time around.
Swansea vs Watford
Watford will be hoping to bounce back from the nightmares they suffered last week in the hands of Man City, when they travel to the Liberty stadium to take on Paul Clement’s Swansea.
The Hornets were at the receiving end in week five, after City put six past them at the Vicarage Road. But
Swansea earned a very good point at Spurs last week, and will go into the game in confident mood, as they face a side they’ve only lost once to in their last 10 meetings at home.
Leicester City vs Liverpool
The King Power stadium hosts the tie of week six, as 2016 champions, Leicester lock horns with Liverpool
Three days after the Foxes knocked the Reds out of the Carabao Cup, the face each other again, but this time, it’s a battle for points and the home side will feel confident of getting a result.
However, Liverpool have had the better of their hosts in the PL, winning six of their last ten meetings and for their manager, Jurgen Klopp, he expects a ‘fight’ back from his side.
Brighton vs Newcastle
It’s a battle between two PL newcomers when Brighton hosts Newcastle in the first game on Sunday.
It is the first meeting between the two in the English top division, but their 15th league meetings, as the Magpies were the only side to beat Brighton home and away in the championship last season.
The home side will be looking to bounce back from their defeat at Bournemouth last week, while Newcastle will be hoping to continue their rich vein of form, which has seen them move up to fourth on the league table.
Arsenal vs West Brom
The final match of week six sees Arsenal host Tony Pulis and his West Brom side at the Emirates stadium.
The Gunners have won each of the last six meetings between the two at the Emirates and will be hoping to maintain that record.
Arsenal’s goalless draw at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea on Sunday put a slight gloss on what has been the Gunners’ worst start in the PL since 2011.
For the Baggies, they’d be looking to make their manager, Pulis’ 100th PL game in charge of the club a memorable one.
Pulis will become the first manager to be in charge of 100 PL games at West Brom when his side take to the Emirate pitch later on Sunday, while midfielder, Gareth Barry will make his 633rd PL appearance, becoming the player with the most appearances in the history of the league, eclipsing Ryan Giggs.
