A revival of the rivalry between Liverpool and Chelsea headlines Matchday 8, as the 2024-25 Premier League returns from the international break with a bang.
Liverpool and Chelsea will meet at Anfield on the late afternoon of Sunday 20 October, with the Reds looking to continue a nine-game unbeaten run against the Blues which started all the way back in August 2021.
Yet Chelsea – despite a seemingly scatter-gun transfer approach, a bloated squad and off-field wrangling involving their ownership – have made impressive progress under manager Enzo Maresca, who will head to Merseyside confident that his team has the tools to compete on an even footing with Liverpool.
“We try to be focused on the things we can do better, the things we can control. The pitch side is where we can be focused,” said the Italian tactician.
“I said many times, the only thing we need to pay attention to is how we can improve, and I think we are progressing, we are in the right direction, but we just started two months ago. It’s a good feeling.”
The Matchday 8 action begins early on Saturday afternoon with a London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United, while the pick of the mid-afternoon matches comes from Old Trafford, as Brentford look to upset Manchester United in their own back yard.
Saturday’s action is wrapped up by Bournemouth hosting Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium – with the Cherries hoping to capitalise on stats which suggest that they are one of the teams which create the most shooting chances in the Premier League.
“It’s good numbers to have,” said manager Andoni Iraola. “Numbers don’t give you points but we are having our chances and creating things. I hope we can continue because the most important thing is to have the chances and I trust my players to score the goals.”
Sunday, aside from the Liverpool v Chelsea match, also features champions Manchester City away to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium, and the round closes out on Monday evening with a meeting of Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace at the City Ground.
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Broadcast details
Saturday 19 October
- 13:30: Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2
- 16:00: Fulham v Aston Villa – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 1
- 16:00: Ipswich Town v Everton – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 2
- 16:00: Manchester United v Brentford – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League, SuperSport Blitz and SuperSport Maximo 2
- 16:00: Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 3
- 16:00: Southampton v Leicester City – LIVE on SuperSport Action
- 18:30: AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2
Sunday 20 October
- 15:00: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2
- 17:30: Liverpool v Chelsea – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2
Monday 21 October
- 21:00: Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2