Ten fixtures, a mountain of injury news, and more uncertainty than a Monday morning team meeting. Let's get into what actually matters this weekend.
Saturday: The Spurs Test and Arsenal's Perfect Start
Tottenham kick things off at 12.30pm against Aston Villa at the Hotspur Stadium, and the injury list at both clubs is something else. Spurs are without Mudryk (ankle), Odobert (knee), Simons (knee), and Kulusevski (knee), while Villa arrive with Madjo, Goretzka, Onana, Maatsen, and Torres all ruled out to varying degrees. That is a lot of quality missing from both squads. Referee Sam Barrott is averaging 3.0 cards per game this season, so don't expect fireworks in that department at least.
The 3pm slot brings Everton v Ipswich at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Stuart Attwell officiating. He is on 7.0 cards per game this season, so brace yourselves. Newcastle host Hull at the same time, and the Magpies' injury list borders on the tragic: Burn, González, Ramsey, Elanga, Dedic, Joelinton, and Osula are all sidelined. Hull are missing Morita, Mendy, Ansah, Hughes, Gyabi, Butland, and Matazo. Frankly, both clubs are cobbling squads together at this point.
Nottingham Forest v Coventry rounds off Saturday's action at 5.30pm at the City Ground. Forest are missing Savona and Milenkovic, while Coventry are without Hayden, Woolfenden, Eccles, Wright, and Amenda. Given both squads are depleted, this one could be a genuine lottery.
The one fixture that genuinely has our attention, though, is Brighton v Arsenal. Arsenal are coming in with a 100% winning record and they want to keep it intact at the Amex. Arsenal's squad depth looks considerable: they have the likes of Gyökeres, Eze, and Madueke among their substitutes, though Mosquera and White are both doubtful with hamstring and groin issues respectively. Brighton's own injury situation is grim. Minteh, Mitoma, Hinshelwood, Wieffer, Yohanna, Svodoba, Tzimas, and Ferguson are all out. It is hard to see past Arsenal here. If you've been following the [comparisons being drawn about young Arsenal talent like Dowman](/uprise/football/they-are-very-similar-arsenals-dowman-reminds-merino-of-lamine), this squad is building something properly.
Sunday: Liverpool, City, and United's Craven Cottage Problem
Bournemouth host Liverpool at 2pm at the Vitality Stadium. Liverpool are missing Chiesa, Leoni, Ekitiké, Endo, and Bradley, which is not nothing, but the squad depth they carry still makes them heavy favourites on the road.
Manchester City welcome Sunderland to the Etihad in the same timeslot, looking to extend their perfect record against them. Sunderland's form reads LWDL and their leading scorers, N Angulo and Isidor, have just one goal apiece. City's bench includes Doku among others. Do the maths.
Leeds host Crystal Palace at Elland Road, also at 2pm, and Palace are without Henderson, Mateta, and Riad.
The day closes with Fulham v Manchester United at Craven Cottage at 4.30pm. United's injury list makes grim reading: Diallo, Baleba, De Ligt, Heaton, and Ugarte are all out. [The questions around this Manchester United side are not going away](/uprise/football/are-manchester-united-as-poor-as-the-early-premier-league), and a trip to Fulham with a depleted squad is not the fixture you want right now.
Our read: Arsenal keep the 100% record. City and Liverpool win comfortably. United drop points again.