The Premier League continues this weekend with Matchday 4, and Sportsnet will have live coverage of five games.
Saturday, September 1
• Leicester City vs. Liverpool, 7:00 a.m. ET (Sporsnet and Sportsnet World)
• Everton vs. Huddersfield Town, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet)
• Wolves vs. West Ham United, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet ONE)
Sunday, September 2
• Watford vs. Tottenham, 10:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet ONE)
• Burnley vs. Manchester United, 10:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet World)
Here’s what you need to know ahead of this weekend.
MARQUEE MATCH
Watford vs. Tottenham: No, that’s not a mistake. Sunday’s tilt at Vicarage Road between the Hornets and Spurs is the marquee match of the weekend, as they are two of only four perfect teams in the Premier league thus far – Chelsea and Manchester City are the other two.
Watford is looking to win its first four league matches of a season for only the second time in its history. Key to its success has been the play of Argentine Roberto Pereyra, who has nine goals and two assists in his last nine Premier League appearances at Vicarage Road dating back to last season.
Tottenham has won more points (49) than any other Premier League side in 2018, winning 15 of its 21 matches, with only two losses.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Alisson, Liverpool: The Brazilian seems to have settled in quite nicely in England following his summer transfer move from AS Roma. He’s started his Liverpool career by not giving up a single goal in three games, and he can become only fourth goalkeeper in Premier League history to keep a clean sheet in his first four starts should he blank Leicester City at King Power Stadium on Saturday.
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BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION vs. FULHAM
Fulham is the only team this season to have both taken and faced at least 20 shots on target – 21 for, 23 against.
CHELSEA vs. BOURNEMOUTH
Chelsea is attempting to win its first four matches of a Premier League season for the sixth time (2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2014-15). They only time it didn’t win the title in one of those seasons was in 2010-11, when it finished second.
CRYSTAL PALACE vs. SOUTHAMPTON
Under manager Roy Hodgson, Wilfried Zaha has been involved in 14 Premier League goals for Crystal Palace (11 goals and three assists), more than any other player.
EVERTON vs. HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
Everton is unbeaten in its last 20 Premier League home matches (with 17 wins) against teams starting the day in the bottom half of the table.
WEST HAM UNITED vs. WOLVES
West Ham has lost its last two Premier League home matches against promoted sides, having been defeated by Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United last season.
MANCHESTER CITY vs. NEWCASTLE UNITED
Sergio Aguero has scored 14 goals in his 11 league appearances against Newcastle. Eight of those goals have come in his last two home matches against the Magpies.
CARDIFF CITY vs. ARSENAL
Matteo Guendouzi could become only the fourth teenager to start each of Arsenal’s first four matches of a Premier League season, joining Nicolas Anelka (1998-99), Cesc Fabregas (2004-05 and 2006-07) and Johan Djourou (2006-07).
BURNLEY vs. MANCHESTER UNITED
Burnley has used the exact same starting lineup in each of its first three games to start the season.
THE BIG QUESTION
Every week, Sportsnet’s soccer panel will debate The Big Question. Have your say by voting in the poll below:
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HE SAID IT
“This is the style we will continue with in the future,” he said, “and I’m absolutely sure that, if the team continues in the current way, and I hope that the fans also will continue supporting, we will win more games than we lose.” – West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini on his team’s three losses to start the season.
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