English Premier League football returns this weekend and @Olimp_SA have a preview for Southampton vs Manchester United and Spurs vs Arsenal
The international break is behind us, and now it's time to gear up for an exciting Premier League weekend! We’ve handpicked some thrilling matchups to preview just for you!
Southampton vs Manchester United
Two teams off to a poor start in the Premier League go head-to-head at St. Mary's to kick off the weekend. Southampton’s start to the season has been one to forget so far, as they sit at the bottom of the table after 1-0 losses to both Newcastle and Southampton, followed by a 3-1 defeat to Brentford. Despite a 5-3 win over Cardiff in the Carabao Cup, they’ve struggled to compete with Premier League opponents. Their defence is a major concern, and they’re also finding it difficult to score goals. History doesn’t favour them either, as Southampton haven’t beaten Manchester United since their 1-0 victory at Old Trafford back in 2016. In fact, they’ve failed to win in their last 14 meetings with United at St. Mary’s Stadium. However, three of their last five encounters have ended in a draw, so we expect the Saints to challenge a shaky Manchester United side on Saturday.
Expectations were high for Manchester United this season, but they’ve fallen short so far, securing just 3 out of a possible 9 points. The pressure is mounting as they head into Saturday’s match, fresh off an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford. Concerns over Ten Hag’s tactics are growing, casting doubt on the Dutchman’s future. Interestingly, this rough start mirrors their first three games (D1, L2) in Ten Hag’s debut season, which eventually saw them finish third in the league. A trip to Southampton could be the perfect opportunity to reset. The Devils are hoping to have key players back, including Manuel Ugarte, with potential returns from Luke Shaw and Rasmus Højlund. Recent matchups between these two sides have been low-scoring affairs since United's 9-0 victory in 2021. On paper, Manchester United appear to have the upper hand in terms of quality, but with their unpredictable form, it’s hard to predict exactly what performance they’ll deliver. This could be another close-contested fixture.
Team picks
A thrilling London Derby awaits us on Sunday! Tottenham return to Premier League action after a mixed start to the 2024/25 season, featuring a 1-1 draw with Leicester, a promising 4-0 win over Everton, and a 2-1 loss to Newcastle United. With Dominic Solanke and Micky van de Ven set to return from injury, Spurs may finally find the spark needed to ignite their campaign. However, recent history doesn’t favour them. Tottenham haven’t beaten Arsenal since 2022 and have struggled in the North London Derby, with just one win in their last seven meetings (D1, L5). Their home form in this fixture has also been disappointing, with 3-2 and 2-0 defeats in their last two encounters, their last victory coming in a 3-0 win back in 2022. Despite this, we anticipate a high-scoring affair that will excite casual fans, as 5 of the last 6 Premier League matchups between these two sides have seen over 2.5 goals. Sunday's game promises to deliver another goal-packed spectacle.
Arsenal have made an impressive start to the season, securing 2-0 wins against Wolves and Aston Villa. However, they were recently held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton, one of this season’s surprise performers. Given Brighton’s strong form, this result is less concerning and unlikely to dent Arsenal’s confidence. That said, Arteta faces a significant challenge this weekend, as he’ll be missing two key players—Declan Rice, suspended after a red card against Brighton, and captain Martin Ødegaard, sidelined with an ankle injury from international duty. This North London Derby will be a real test of Arsenal's squad depth. On a positive note, Arsenal remain unbeaten in away league games since the start of 2024 (W9, D1), and even with these key absences, they have quality across the board. Arteta’s clear tactical approach makes it difficult to envision Arsenal faltering in this match, despite the obstacles.
Team picks
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