One hell of a weekend in the English Premier League

The Premier League is back this weekend and we're excited for the games ahead, which of the games are you looking forward to? (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

The Premier League returns this weekend with aplomb, and we’re excited about a few fixtures already. Clubs have loads of reasons to be optimistic ahead of resumption, but what fixtures tickle our fancy?

Anfield will come to life with the latest installment of the famous Merseyside Derby, with Everton strolling to meet their neighbors. It’s a fixture the Kops have dominated over the years, but Everton’s current struggles would mean they need results here and there; this would be feisty.

Five games will kick off at the same time on Saturday. Luton’s visit to the City Ground to entertain Nottingham Forest is a tasty clash to look out for. Relegation waters seem to be usurping the new boys, but Forest is struggling with injuries and fatigue. Luton would feel they have a chance.

Manchester City’s game against Brighton is the peak of the bunch, and everyone should be excited about this one. The champions lost at Arsenal before the break, and that made it three losses on the bounce domestically, all without Rodri, as he was sent off against Forest weeks ago, but the Spaniard is back.

How will Brighton approach the game? We will look at the game in isolation in later articles, but it’s a game everyone should be excited about. Manchester City could be looking for a scapegoat, but the Seagulls also have it in them to ruffle feathers. We can’t wait.

Newcastle at home to Crystal Palace is another fixture to keep an eye on. The Eagles don’t let in much, but they’re not doing well at the other end either. Newcastle hasn’t lost a game in their last five, and before the stalemate at West Ham, they had won four on the bounce. This should be fun.

Everyone is certainly waiting for the penultimate fixture of the day. The Gunners will cross to West London to play Chelsea, a seemingly resurgent team with not so much to worry about. Chelsea has won three games on the bounce, and that offers some confidence ahead of Arsenal’s visit.

The Gunners have yet to lose a game on the domestic front this season, and Chelsea would be looking to inflict their first defeat on them. Arsenal beat Manchester City last time out; that should be a source of worry for the Blues.

Sheffield United still haven’t won a game this season—four straight losses—and they’re to welcome Manchester United to Bramall Lane on Saturday. That must be tough. Scott McTominay bailed United out the last time at home to Brentford, and United would like to build on that.

The Aston Villa and West Ham game is the only one slated for Sunday, and it’s a like-for-like fixture. Two teams that can spring interesting surprises on their days—Spurs and Fulham—will wrap things up on Monday night. What a weekend we have ahead of us.