An interesting game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as two teams with perceived contrasting fortunes so far this season face off in Spurs and Aston Villa. 

The chatter around Thomas Frank’s Tottenham is largely positive, currently averaging two points per game and third in the table. For Villa they failed to score in their first four games in all competitions, and failed to win in six, but have now won four games on the bounce. There are ten places but only five points between the two sides, and even less if FotMOB’s xG table, which have them separated by one point, with Spurs having picked up six more points than their performances merited.

When you add in that Tottenham have won just one of three home league games so far, coming against Burnley, I think we’ll see a close game here with both sides able to create chances.

Mohammed Kudus has looked Spurs’ most lively attacker so far this season, having made the move across London from West Ham. One goal and four assists is a strong return through seven games, the number in particular only matched by Jack Grealish. He should be able to cause Villa’s left back problems by carrying the ball, having completed the most dribbles so far this Premier League season.

At the other end, with Ollie Watkins having made a slow start and having picked up an injury on England duty, Donyell Malen has a chance to step into the main role. Some would argue he already has, having scored twice against Burnley last time out. He also scored for the Netherlands during the international break. Despite limited chances to impress in his debut season, just 298 minutes, he still averaged 0.91 goals per 90.

Arguably the biggest game in English football comes to Super Sunday this weekend, as Liverpool host Manchester United. The most recent encounter, which may stick in your head between these two sides at Anfield, is the 7-0 drubbing in 2023, but United have actually earned a point in each of their last two visits.

Liverpool are yet to drop a point at Anfield, but have been far from convincing in my book, winning all three games by a one-goal margin and having been tested in all three. They have lost their last two games, with questions being asked as to whether the big money signings of Isak and Wirtz have improved the Champions.

Manchester United have had a poor start by their old standards, but probably the start expected of them in their current guise. They’ve looked threatening in most games going forward, but are still capable of calamity at the back, their 11 goals conceded the highest of any side in the top 13. The stats do have them as the side with the highest xG, but they drop to a still creditable third when penalties are removed, and they’re above Liverpool in the xG table.

I want to side with Cody Gakpo of the Liverpool attackers, who doesn’t get the plaudits that the likes of Mo Salah and Luis Diaz have before him. He has as many goals and assists as any Liverpool player, with four. He also recorded four in two games with the Netherlands over the international break. If Amad starts at wing-back, that area of the pitch is a defensive weakness.

Bruno Fernandes is the pick for United, an obvious one, but you cannot get away from his numbers since he became a Premier League player, having scored or provided an assist in 84 out of 185 appearances. He has scored twice so far, and an added interest here is that he will take set pieces, from which Liverpool have conceded four goals, with only West Ham conceding more.