More misery for Manchester United, Merseyside derby draw: Premier League predictions

English top-flight returns to action after the international break

Saturday - Everton v Liverpool (Kick-off 3.30pm UAE): Table-topping Everton are looking to defeat champions Liverpool in the Merseyside derby for the first time since 2010. Carlo Ancelotti's men have won four out of four so far this season and seen new boys - such as Allan and James Rodriguez - settle seamlessly into the team. Liverpool are still licking their wounds from their 7-2 battering at Aston Villa last time out. Prediction: Everton 2 Liverpool 2. AFP

Chelsea v Southampton (6pm): Chelsea will be looking to continue where they left off before the international break when they walloped Crystal Palace 4-0 at Stamford Bridge. But they face a Southampton side who have won their last two games and in Danny Ings, have one of the in-form strikers in the league. Prediction: Chelsea 3 Southampton 1. PA

Manchester City v Arsenal (8.30pm): It is fair to say this was not the start Pep Guardiola had in mind for his City team that was left for dead by Liverpool in last season's title race. Their last home game ended in a 5-2 thrashing by Leicester, followed up by a draw at newly-promoted Leeds and Guardiola's former City assistant Mikel Arteta must feel his Arsenal team are in with a shout at the Etihad. Prediction: City 2 Arsenal 1. AFP

Newcastle United v Manchester United (11pm): Crunch time for the Red Devils as they hope to banish the nightmare of losing 6-1 at home to Spurs as quickly as possible. How they fair will depend on which Newcastle side turns up at St James' Park: the team that was battered 3-0 by Brighton last month or the one that dispatched Burnley 3-1 in their previous match. Prediction: Newcastle 3 Manchester United 2. AP

Sunday - Sheffield United v Fulham (3pm): The battle of the bottom two sees a clash between two teams each without a win from their opening four games, who have mustered just four goals between them and conceded 17. It is Fulham who look in worse shape though and expect their woes to continue at Bramall Lane. Prediction: Sheffield United 2 Fulham 0. AP

Crystal Palace v Brighton (5pm): Neither side here are in great form with both having lost their last two games and both conceding four in their previous match. All eyes will be on the clubs' key attackers - Palace's Wilfried Zaha and Neal Maupay of Brighton - to provide the scoring spark needed but this feels like a draw all day long. Prediction: Palace 1 Brighton 1. EPA

Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (7.30pm): Jose Mourinho must still be buzzing from his Spurs side thrashing old club Manchester United 6-1 before the international break. The Portuguese needs his team to build on that stunning result but come up against a buoyant West Ham side fresh from their own fantastic result - a 3-0 win at Leicester City. Prediction: Tottenham 3 West Ham 0. Reuters

Leicester City v Aston Villa (10.15pm): After last season's relegation battle, few would have expected Villa to be sitting second in the table after winning their opening three games. And only those with the most claret-and-blue-tinted glasses could have foreseen them dealing out a 6-2 battering to champions Liverpool. But that's where we are and expect them to give Leicester a run for their money here. Prediction: Leicester 1 Villa 1. EPA

Monday - West Bromwich Albion v Burnley (8.30pm): Early form suggests both sides will be fighting to avoid relegation at the end of the season. The have managed a single point between them so far from seven games, thanks to West Brom - who have played a match more - drawing 3-3 with Chelsea last month. Prediction: West Brom 1 Burnley 1. Reuters

Leeds United v Wolves (11pm): Not since Kevin Keegan's Newcastle side of the mid-1990s has a team made such an immediate impact on the top-flight than Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds. A seven-goal thriller against Liverpool on the opening weekend was followed last week by a 1-1 draw with Manchester City that Pep Guardiola called "incredible entertaining football". Wolves are next up for "The Entertainers mark II". Prediction: Leeds 2 Wolves 2. AFP

After a good two days' rest after the international fixtures, we hurtle headlong into a full Premier League programme.

Clear your Saturday schedule of all domestic chores as early as possible because there are an absolute belting set of matches to enjoy from mid-afternoon.

A much-anticipated Merseyside derby kicks off proceedings where table-topping Everton – who have not beaten their city rivals in any competition since 2010 – play host to reigning champions Liverpool, fresh from their 7-2 humiliation at Aston Villa.

Big-spending Chelsea then entertain Southampton at Stamford Bridge, followed by a humdinger at the Etihad when Manchester City face Arsenal.

Ending a fine day of action is Newcastle against Manchester United at St James' Park, with Ole Gunnar-Solskjaer's side still smarting from their 6-1 mauling by Tottenham before the international break.

Sunday starts with pointless Sheffield United and Fulham facing-off at Bramall Lane and then Crystal Palace's home clash with Brighton.

A derby double is next up as Spurs take on London rivals West Ham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, followed by the midlands spat between Leicester City and Aston Villa.

On Monday, winless wonders West Bromwich Albion and Burnley look to ignite their seasons at the Hawthorns, while the latest round of fixtures end with Leeds United versus Wolves at Elland Road.

To see our predictions for the upcoming matches, look through the photo gallery above and click on the arrows or swipe.