- Premier League football returns on Saturday after a two-week international break
- Jose Mourinho hosts old nemesis Pep Guardiola, as unpredictable Manchester United entertain West Brom
- Arsenal travel to Leeds United as plagued Liverpool welcome league leaders Leicester City
- Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19
Premier League football returns after two weeks international break.
It has now been four solid months of club action now as the Premier League makes a very welcome return this weekend.
When we left off a fortnight ago, the season was shaping up to be something of a thriller. Leicester City were leading the way with Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Southampton tucked in behind them.
The English league has been full of surprises, upsets and remarkable results and many more await as the league returns.
Tottenham vs Manchester City
Jose Mourinho welcomes his old nemesis, Pep Guardiola, to the Tottenham Stadium on Saturday evening.
Spurs have had a relatively brighter start to the season than their visitors. The North London outfit have certainly found a winning habit of late, taking maximum returns from their last three league games and all by a single-goal margin.
Their bright form – and City’s stuttering form – give Mourinho a very good chance of getting one over his old nemesis Pep Guardiola on Saturday.
There is likely to be fireworks in what will amount to an intriguing tactical tussle, especially since both managers have had two weeks to dwell on their game plans.
Guardiola signed a new deal with City and the uncertainty surrounding his future that has been blamed on the side’s poor start could now be in the past and the Spaniard will be looking to getting one over his long-time rival.
Manchester United vs West Brom
Manchester United will start the weekend down in 14th but a home fixture against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday night is surely three easy points in the bank.
But with United at the moment, nothing is assured. You just don’t know which version of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team will turn up.
United won’t move up the table, and Solskjaer will remain under intense pressure, unless they find that elusive consistency of performance and result.
Eyes will be on Paul Pogba. The French World Cup winner admitted that the international break was much of a relief for him after enduring a torrid time with the Manchester side.
Pogba has started just one of United’s last four league games with Scott McTominay, Bruno Fernandes and Fred currently Solskjaer’s preferred midfield options.
Leeds United vs Arsenal
In his pre-match press conference, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta spoke of the need for the Gunners to bounce back after suffering a terrible 3-0 loss to Aston Villa just before the break.
The Spaniard also admitted to knowing what to expect from their hosts on Sunday – aggression throughout the game. How he sets up his side will be very interesting to see against a side that never shies away from attacking and pressing.
There has been repeated discussion on the need to move Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the flank and put him in the centre of attack. Gunners’ fans have also called on the dropping of Alexandre Lacazette and Willian in favor of either Nicolas Pepe, Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka.
Against a master tactician in Marcelo Biesla, Arteta will have to be spot-on in his team selection and tactics.
Liverpool vs Leicester City
League leaders travel to Anfield on Sunday with a solid chance of grabbing three points from the reigning champions.
They are in excellent form, having won six consecutive games in the Premier League and the Europa League before the international break and certainly aren’t top by accident.
The hosts are crippled with injuries and missing players with Jurgen Klopp face a selection crisis in defence.
The Reds are already without Virgil van Djik for the rest of the season with Joe Gomez needing a ‘miracle’ for him to be involved this season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are also without right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who pulled up with a hamstring injury against Manchester City last time out.
Fabinho, who might have slotted into a makeshift backline, is also sidelined. Likewise, Rhys Williams, who took a heavy kick to the foot while playing for Wales.
Captain Jordan Henderson is also a doubt and this leaves Klopp with a selection dilemma ahead of the crunch clash against league leaders Leicester City.
