LONDON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The top three in the Premier League all play on Saturday afternoon, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal all facing potentially difficult rivals.
Manchester City moved top of the table last weekend, but any satisfaction at that have gone in the wake of a Carabao Cup defeat away to Tottenham and a long injury list that has deprived Pep Guardiola of a host of players to visit Bournemouth.
Jack Grealish, Rodri, Kyle Walker, Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku are among those out for a tricky game.
Bournemouth have already beaten Arsenal at home and the aggressive style of play from coach Andoni Iraola - a possible long-term replacement for Guardiola at City - will test a defense missing key players.
Liverpool are at home to Brighton, just three days after beating them 3-2 in the Carabao Cup.
Both teams are likely to make changes for Saturday, with Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez back in the starting 11 for Liverpool, where the big question is whether Cody Gakpo, who scored in midweek, will continue on the left of Arne Slot's attack.
Arsenal start the weekend with an interesting trip to play Newcastle United, who put some indifferent league form behind them to beat Chelsea in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
Last weekend's draw at home to Liverpool saw Arsenal drop five points behind City in the title race.
Saturday's game will see Arsenal's Spain international midfielder Mikel Merino return to face one of his former clubs.
The two biggest games on Sunday see fourth-placed Aston Villa away to Tottenham, while Manchester United are at home to Chelsea.
Tottenham are having a season of highs and lows, but should be boosted after beating Manchester City in a game that saw Timo Werner get a much-needed goal, although Villa are always a difficult proposition.
Manchester United sacked Erik ten Hag in the wake of last weekend's defeat to West Ham, and won their first game under the temporary charge of Ruud van Nistelrooy 5-2 at home to Leicester City.
Chelsea will prove to be a much tougher test of United's true potential, and with Ruben Amorim likely to be in charge at Old Trafford by the end of the month, several players now have the chance to impress the man who will be boss.
Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest entertain West Ham United after two consecutive wins, with Morgan Gibbs-White returning for the home side, against a rival that has looked vulnerable this season.
Wolves will see their match at home to Crystal Palace as a chance to take their first win of the season, but Palace will also be boosted after last week's wins over Tottenham and Aston Villa.
Southampton quite simply have to win their home match against Everton, otherwise any survival hopes will start to disappear, while Ipswich Town and Leicester City play a game between two sides who were promoted last season.
Ipswich are another team without a win, while Leicester look slightly better equipped to deal with the Premier League, although home striker Liam Delap is a major threat.
The weekend ends with a southwest London derby on Monday, when Fulham host Brentford. ■
