Premier League Weekend Special: Rivalries, redemption and rising stakes
As the Premier League enters another high-octane weekend, SuperSport lines up fixtures that promise drama, history, and a heavy dose of narrative tension.
From the red-hot Merseyside Derby to a tactical chess match at Old Trafford and a title-tinged showdown in North London, this is a weekend where reputations will be tested and legacies shaped.
LIVERPOOL V EVERTON — SATURDAY @ 1:30PM CAT
Anfield Awaits: Moyes Returns, Salah Reloads, and the Red Mist Looms
The Merseyside Derby is never short on emotion, but this one carries extra weight. David Moyes returns to Anfield with Everton, still chasing his first Premier League win at the ground after 20 fruitless attempts. His record there — D6 L14 — is a haunting stat, matched only by his similarly winless run at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are chasing a fifth consecutive home win over Everton — a feat not achieved since the 1930s. Arne Slot’s side has started the season with four straight wins, and a fifth would echo their title-winning rhythm from 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Liverpool have lost just one of their last 28 home games against Everton in all competitions (W17 D10), winning each of their last four in a row since a 0-2 defeat in February 2021. Only from February 1933 to January 1937 have the Reds ever won five straight home matches against the Toffees.
Everton have won just two of their last 29 Premier League Merseyside derbies against Liverpool (D14 L13) and have failed to score in five of their last seven.
Everton vs Liverpool has seen more red cards than any other fixture in Premier League history (25), with 11 of those being for David Moyes’ Everton side in 24 games across his two spells, the most any team have had red cards under one manager in a Premier League fixture. In 15 league games against Liverpool not as Everton boss, his teams have only had one red card (Nemanja Vidic for Man Utd in March 2014).
With four wins from their opening four league games this season, Liverpool could win each of their first five matches of a Premier League campaign for the third time, after 2018-19 and 2019-20, while they could record three successive clean sheets for the first time since September 2024.
Everton have won six of their last 11 away Premier League matches (D2 L3), as many as they’d won in their previous 30 combined (W6 D10 L14). All six wins have been in 2025, last winning seven in one year back in 2021, which included a 2-0 win at Anfield.
Seven of Liverpool's nine Premier League goals this season have come in the second half of games, with five of those seven coming in the final 10 minutes. Indeed, since the start of last season, the Reds have more goals in the final 10 minutes of games than any other side (19).
Liverpool have scored 47 goals in 21 home Premier League games under Arne Slot; should they score three in this game it would be the fifth-quickest any manager has seen 50 goals scored at home, and quickest since Antonio Conte (18 games in 2016-17).
Everton manager David Moyes has never won a Premier League match at Anfield in 20 attempts (D6 L14) – the joint most any manager has managed at one stadium without winning, along with Moyes at Stamford Bridge (D7 L13). He’s lost each of his last nine at Anfield (one with Man Utd, one with Sunderland, six with West Ham, one with Everton).
Mohamed Salah has scored eight goals against Everton for Liverpool in the Premier League, only Steven Gerrard (9) has more Merseyside derby goals in the competition’s history. This season, however, is his lowest return per 90 for the Reds in terms of shots (1.3), shots on target (0.8), expected goals (0.3) and touches in the opposition’s box (6.3).
Only three players have completed more take-ons in the Premier League this season than Everton duo Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye (both 8). Indeed, only Bruno Fernandes (10) has created more chances from open play than Grealish (9), while only Bruno Guimarães (6) has won possession in the final third more often than Ndiaye (5).
MANCHESTER UNITED V CHELSEA — SATURDAY @ 6:30PM CAT
Old Trafford’s Stalemate Saga: Bruno’s Milestone, Pedro’s Surge, and a Shot Storm Brewing
The most drawn fixture in Premier League history returns to Old Trafford, where Manchester United haven’t lost to Chelsea in 12 league games. But the Blues, fresh off a 1-0 win in May, are eyeing back-to-back victories over United for the first time since the Ancelotti era.
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League home games against Chelsea (W5 D7) since a 0-1 defeat in May 2013. Indeed, Chelsea’s win rate of 18% at Old Trafford in the Premier League (6/33) is their lowest away to any side they have visited 10+ times in the competition.
After their 1-0 win in May, Chelsea are looking for successive league victories over Manchester United for the first time since winning three in a row from November 2009 to March 2011 under Carlo Ancelotti. The Blues’ two wins in their last three league games versus the Red Devils (D1) are as many as their previous 17 beforehand (W2 D9 L6).
Chelsea vs Manchester United is the most drawn fixture in Premier League history, finishing level 27 times. 14 of those draws have come at Old Trafford, with Everton against Spurs at Goodison Park the only fixture at a specific venue to be drawn more often in the competition (17).
Manchester United have won two of their last three home Premier League matches (L1), as many as in their previous 11 at Old Trafford combined (W2 D2 L7). They are looking for consecutive home league victories within the same season and under the same manager for the first time since December 2023 under Erik ten Hag.
Only Manchester City (8.5) have a higher expected goals total than Manchester United (8.3) so far in the Premier League this season. However, only Burnley (9.4), Aston Villa (7.4) and Wolves (7.2) have a higher xG against than the Red Devils (6.9).
Despite scoring only five times, Manchester United have had 94 shots in their last four home Premier League games, attempting at least 20 in every game. They last had 20+ shots in more consecutive league games at Old Trafford between March and September 2012 under Sir Alex Ferguson (8 in a row).
Bryan Mbeumo has been involved in six goals in seven Premier League appearances against Chelsea (3 goals, 3 assists) – all while playing for Brentford – but all of these goal involvements came at Stamford Bridge. It is the joint-most goals and assists against a single opponent with none coming on home soil by any player in Premier League history.
No player has been involved in more Premier League goals this season than Chelsea’s João Pedro (5 – 2 goals, 3 assists). The Brazilian has also scored three goals in his five games against Man Utd in the competition – against no side has he scored more.
Bruno Fernandes could make his 200th Premier League appearance in this match, the 28th player to reach that milestone for Manchester United. He has 51 assists for the Red Devils, with only David Beckham making more in his first 200 for the club (62).
Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes has created the most chances both overall (14) and from open play (10) in the Premier League this season but is yet to provide an assist. Teammate Matheus Cunha, meanwhile, has had more shots on target without scoring than any other player so far (5).
ARSENAL V MANCHESTER CITY — SUNDAY @ 5:30PM CAT
North London’s Power Play: Arteta’s Edge, Haaland’s Capital Reign, and Gyökeres’ Emergence
Arsenal v Manchester City is no longer a one-sided affair. The Gunners have won two of their last four league meetings with City and are unbeaten in their last three at home against the reigning champions. Mikel Arteta could become the first manager to go five league games unbeaten against Pep Guardiola — a seismic shift in their mentor-protégé dynamic.
Arsenal have won two of their last four league meetings with Manchester City (D2), as many as their previous 22 beforehand (D5 L15). The Gunners could win back-to-back league games against the Citizens for the first time since December 2015.
Manchester City have lost both of their last two Premier League visits to Arsenal, as many as their previous 14 beforehand (W7 D5 L2). It’s their longest losing run away to the Gunners since April 2009 (4 in a row).
Arsenal have won their last three Premier League home games by an aggregate score of 9-0. They last won four in a row without conceding in December 2021, while they last won their first three at home in a season without conceding in 1960-61.
Manchester City have lost five of their last seven Premier League games immediately following a European game in midweek (W2), including a 5-1 loss at Arsenal in February. Their previous five such defeats came over a period of 46 games in five years (W27 D14).
Only Bournemouth (9) have had more direct attacks than Arsenal in the Premier League this season (8, an average of 2 per game). Last season, the Gunners ranked 11th for direct attacks (1.7 per game).
With Man City winless in four Premier League games against Arsenal, Pep Guardiola could go five games without a top-flight league win against an opponent for the very first time. Mikel Arteta could also become the first manager ever to go five league games unbeaten against Guardiola.
Man City’s Erling Haaland has scored four goals in six Premier League appearances against Arsenal, while he has 19 goals in 20 league games in London. Among players to play 1,000+ minutes in away Premier League games in the capital, Haaland has the best minutes per goal ratio (one every 93 mins).
Viktor Gyökeres has scored in both of his two Premier League home games for Arsenal (3 goals in total). The only player to score in each of his first three for the club in the competition was Alexandre Lacazette in 2017.
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres has applied more pressures in the final third than any other player in the Premier League this season (166). Meanwhile, Man City’s #9 Erling Haaland has applied more pressures in the opponent’s penalty area than anyone else (65).
Gianluigi Donnarumma made two saves and kept a clean sheet on his Premier League debut in Man City’s 3-0 win against Man Utd last weekend. The only keepers to record a clean sheet in their first two starts for the Citizens are Kasper Schmeichel (August 2007) and Stefan Ortega (May 2023).
ALL MATCHES LIVE ON SUPERSPORT
This weekend isn’t just about points — it’s about pride, power, and proving a point. From historic droughts to tactical revolutions, the Premier League is serving up a feast. And every bite matters.
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