Premier League Matchweek 2 Preview: Villa Host Arsenal as Early Pace-Setters Are Tested

One round of the new Premier League season is in the books, and the early table already has a shape worth squinting at. Brighton and Arsenal sit level on points at the summit, Manchester City and Chelsea have made steady if unspectacular starts, and at the other end Aston Villa, Tottenham and Coventry are all still searching for their first points. Matchweek 2 offers an immediate chance for some of those names to correct course, and for the early pace-setters to prove their opening results were no fluke. The full run of ten fixtures can be found on the fixtures page, but here is what stands out.

There is a little of everything across the weekend: a promoted-versus-champion clash to open proceedings on Friday night, two sides at the foot of the table meeting on Monday, and a London derby at Stamford Bridge that pits third-placed pedigree against a Brighton side already level on points with Arsenal. It is early days, but Matchweek 2 has the look of a round that could start separating pretenders from genuine contenders.

Crystal Palace vs Manchester City

The weekend opens at Selhurst Park, where Crystal Palace, currently 16th and yet to open their account, welcome an Manchester City side sitting 8th with three points on the board. City will fancy imposing their patient build-up on a Palace outfit still finding their feet in the table's lower reaches, but a vocal Selhurst crowd has unsettled bigger names before. Expect City to dominate territory even if the scoreline stays tight into the second half. Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester City. Full match details are on the Friday night fixture page.

Tottenham vs Newcastle

Bottom-of-the-table Tottenham, without a point after the opening round, host Newcastle, who sit 11th with a single point themselves. Neither side has found early rhythm, which makes this one difficult to call on table position alone. Spurs will want to use home advantage to kick-start their campaign, while Newcastle will look to build on the one point they already have. Prediction: Tottenham 1-1 Newcastle. More on this one via the match page.

Chelsea vs Brighton

Sunday's standout fixture sees Chelsea, 6th with three points, host league-leading Brighton, who are also on three points but occupy top spot. Stamford Bridge should provide a proper early-season litmus test for both clubs' credentials. Chelsea will want to state their home authority against a Brighton side that has started the season strongly. Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Brighton. Follow the build-up on the fixture page.

Leeds vs Brentford

Leeds, up in 9th with three points, take on Brentford, who sit even higher in 3rd on the same points total. Elland Road will be bouncing for a fixture between two sides who both began the season with a win. This looks like one of the more evenly matched contests of the round. Prediction: Leeds 1-1 Brentford. Details at the match hub.

Manchester United vs Ipswich

Old Trafford hosts a meeting of contrasting starts as Manchester United, 17th without a point, look to bounce back against Ipswich, who arrive 7th on three points. United will feel the pressure of home advantage and a slow start, while Ipswich will sense an opportunity to make a real early-season statement. Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Ipswich. See the fixture listing for kick-off information.

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

Monday night's finale is the pick of the weekend on paper. Aston Villa prop up the table in 20th place without a point, while Arsenal sit 2nd having taken maximum points from their opener. Villa Park will need to be at its most intimidating if the hosts are to trouble a side already showing early-season momentum. Prediction: Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal. Full coverage awaits on the match page.

Also this weekend

• Liverpool (10th, 1pt) host Nottingham Forest (15th, 0pts) at Anfield — prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Nottingham Forest. Details: match page.
• Bournemouth (13th, 0pts) welcome Everton (4th, 3pts) — prediction: Bournemouth 1-1 Everton. Details: match page.
• Coventry (18th, 0pts) face Hull City (5th, 3pts) — prediction: Coventry 1-2 Hull City. Details: match page.
• Sunderland (14th, 0pts) meet Fulham (12th, 0pts) at the Stadium of Light — prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Fulham. Details: match page.

Taken together, Matchweek 2 offers plenty of scope for the table to shuffle again before the international window even arrives. With early leaders facing tests of substance and strugglers desperate for a foothold, this round could prove far more revealing than the season's opening set of fixtures.