International break is over! The Premier League returns this weekend, bringing Fantasy Premier League excitement right alongside it.
The standout fixture is the fiery Liverpool vs Manchester United derby,
with both sides desperate for a vital win to steady their seasons.
Expect high stakes, intense rivalry, and plenty of drama as these two giants clash once again. But that is not all, as nine other games are set to be played from Saturday to Monday.
Premier League matchweek eight fixtures
Saturday, 18 Oct
Nottingham Forest v Chelsea
Brighton v Newcastle
Burnley v Leeds
Crystal Palace v Bournemouth
Manchester City v Everton
Sunderland v Wolves
Fulham v Arsenal
Sunday, 19 Oct
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
Liverpool v Manchester United
Monday, 20 Oct
West Ham v Brentford
Premier League GW8 Team News and Score Prediction
Nottingham Forest v Chelsea
Pressure is mounting on Ange Postecoglou, with Forest winless in seven games across all competitions and collecting just one Premier League point so far.
Their record against Chelsea offers little comfort either, no home win in 28 years, and the Aussie boss has never beaten the Blues.
Chelsea arrive on a high after Estevão’s late strike against Liverpool snapped their poor run. Enzo Maresca’s side sit seventh but remain five points off top spot, making consistency key if they’re to stay in the title conversation.
Team news: Nottingham Forest – OUT: Ola Aina (hamstring), Douglas Luiz (hamstring), Oleksandr Zinchenko (groin)
Chelsea – OUT: Levi Colwill (knee), Liam Delap (hamstring), Dario Essugo (thigh), Cole Palmer (groin), Tosin Adarabioyo (calf), Wesley Fofana (concussion), Andrey Santos (knock), Reece James (-)
Score Prediction: 1-3
Brighton v Newcastle
Brighton have struggled for consistency early on, with two wins, three draws and two losses from their opening seven games.
However, the Seagulls have never lost at home to Newcastle in the Premier League, boasting three wins and five draws against the Magpies on their turf.
Newcastle travel south looking for their first away goal of the season after three goalless draws at Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth.
With summer signing Nick Woltemade in excellent scoring form, Eddie Howe’s team will be hopeful of breaking their duck here.
Team news: Brighton – OUT: Adam Webster (knee), Solly March (knee), Jack Hinshelwood (ankle), Joel Veltman (calf), Kaoru Mitoma (ankle)
Newcastle United – OUT: Jacob Ramsey (ankle), Yoane Wissa (knee), Tino Livramento (knee), Lewis Hall (thigh)
Score Prediction: 1-1
Burnley v Leeds
Burnley sit just one point away from safety but are struggling badly, with a five-game winless streak extended by a recent loss at Aston Villa.
All four points they’ve collected this season have come on home soil, making Turf Moor a vital fortress.
Leeds haven’t enjoyed much better form recently, earning just one win in their last six matches. However, they remain unbeaten in their last four visits to Turf Moor, giving them hope of adding to that tally.
Team news: Burnley – OUT: Jaidon Anthony (knock), Connor Roberts (knock), Jordan Beyer (knee), Zeki Amdouni (knee)
Leeds United – OUT: Lucas Perri (thigh), Wilfried Gnonto (calf), Daniel James (ankle), Harry Gray (hip)
Score Prediction: 1-2
Crystal Palace v Bournemouth
Crystal Palace head into this match after their unbeaten streak came to an end with a loss to Everton. The Eagles have struggled against Bournemouth recently, failing to score in their last four meetings with the Cherries.
Bournemouth have been one of the surprises this season and currently sit in a Champions League spot. However, just four of their 14 points so far have come away from home, which could make this a tough trip.
Team news: Crystal Palace – OUT: Chadi Riad (knee), Cheick Doucoure (knee), Caleb Kporha (back)
AFC Bournemouth – OUT: Enes Unal (knee), Adam Smith (hamstring)
Score Prediction: 1-1
Manchester City v Everton
Manchester City have won just four of their opening seven games, but go into this match buoyed by back-to-back wins over Burnley and Brentford.
They’ve been dominant against Everton recently, taking maximum points in 13 of their last 15 Premier League encounters.
Everton have made a positive start to the season and arrive at the Etihad just two points behind City. However, they face a significant challenge without Jack Grealish, who is ineligible to play due to his loan from Manchester City.
Team news: Manchester City – OUT: Rayan Ait-Nouri (knock), Omar Marmoush (knee), Abdukodir Khusanov (knock), Rodri (-)
Everton – OUT: Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring), Merlin Rohl (hip), Michael Keane (abdominal)
Score Prediction: 3-1
Sunderland v Wolves
Sunderland have made a strong start to their return to the Premier League and look solid at home. The Black Cats remain unbeaten at the Stadium of Light, having already defeated teams like West Ham and Brentford.
Their early form suggests survival this season is a very achievable goal.
Wolves arrive still searching for their first league win after two late losses against Brighton. Their trips to Sunderland have rarely gone well, with just one victory in this part of the North East since 1993.
They face a tough test if they want to turn their fortunes around.
Team news: Sunderland – OUT: Aji Alese (shoulder), Dennis Cirkin (wrist), Leo Fuhr Hjelde (achilles), Romaine Mundle (hamstring), Habib Diarra (groin)
Wolves – OUT: Matt Doherty (wrist), Leon Chiwome (knee), Toti Gomes (illness)
Score Prediction: 1-0
Fulham v Arsenal
Fulham have struggled to maintain momentum after two home wins in September, slipping to back-to-back defeats on the road and now sitting 14th.
Historically, they’ve only managed four Premier League wins over Arsenal, all on home turf.
Arsenal are yet to reach their best this season, but recent wins against West Ham and Chelsea’s defeat to Liverpool have propelled them to the top of the table.
The Gunners haven’t lost an away London derby since December 2023 at Craven Cottage.
Team news: Fulham – OUT: Kenny Tete (knee), Raul Jimenez (knock), Rodrigo Muniz (muscle), Sasa Lukic (groin)
Arsenal – OUT: Gabriel Jesus (knee), Kai Havertz (knee), Noni Madueke (knee), Piero Hincapie (groin), Martin Odegaard (knee)
Score Prediction: 0-3
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
Tottenham may still be a work in progress under Thomas Frank, but 14 points from seven games is a solid start. However, Frank needs to fix their poor home form, with just seven wins in their last 22 matches at their own ground.
Aston Villa have bounced back from a rocky start, securing four consecutive wins across competitions to get their season moving.
They’ve won five of their last seven meetings with Spurs, though a heavy 4-1 defeat here last November still looms large.
Team news: Tottenham Hotspur – OUT: Dejan Kulusevski (knee), James Maddison (knee), Radu Dragusin (knee), Kota Takai (foot), Yves Bissouma (knock), Dominic Solanke (ankle), Kolo Muani (fitness)
Aston Villa – OUT: Youri Tielemans (calf), Tyrone Mings (knock), Jadon Sancho (illness), Ollie Watkins (knock)
Score Prediction: 2-1
Liverpool v Manchester United
Liverpool started the season brilliantly with five straight wins, but back-to-back losses have seen them slip to second place.
Hosting their fierce rivals could be just the spark they need, especially as they haven’t lost to Man United at Anfield in nearly a decade.
Manchester United arrive in good form with two wins from their last three games. However, their Premier League victories this season have come only against newly promoted sides and a weakened Chelsea. They’ll need a top performance to end their long winless run at Anfield.
Team news: Liverpool – OUT: Giovanni Leoni (knee), Jayden Danns (hamstring), Federico Chiesa (knock), Ibrahima Konate (quadriceps)
Manchester United – OUT: Lisandro Martinez (knee), Noussair Mazraoui (knock)
Score Prediction: 2-0
West Ham v Brentford
West Ham are eager to claim their first home points of the season as they face their fourth consecutive London derby at the London Stadium.
Sitting second from bottom, the Hammers see this fixture as a chance to kickstart a promising run that could lift them away from the relegation zone.
Brentford’s away form has been equally disappointing, losing their three trips to Nottingham Forest, Sunderland, and Fulham so far. However, the Bees can take heart from winning three of their last four Premier League visits to West Ham.
Team news: West Ham – OUT: George Earthy (hamstring)
Brentford – OUT: Gustavo Nunes (hamstring), Edmond-Paris Maghoma (hamstring), Antoni Milambo (knee)
Score Prediction: 1-1
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