London, Aug 21 (AP)— This weekend marks a significant era in Everton's history as the club unveils its new stadium. Meanwhile, could Arsenal be unveiling a sensational new signing? The second round of the Premier League sees Everton stepping away from its long-time base at Goodison Park to debut their first competitive match at the impressive, state-of-the-art, 53,000-seat Bramley-Moore Dock stadium. Brighton will arrive as the inaugural opponents on Sunday, signaling the dawn of a new chapter for Everton, although their on-field journey began on a sour note with a 1-0 defeat at Leeds on Monday.
Regarding Arsenal, anticipation is high for Saturday's home clash with Leeds. It could be the perfect stage to introduce fans at Emirates Stadium to Eberechi Eze, pending the completion of his anticipated transfer from Crystal Palace. Sky Sports has reported that Arsenal has swayed Eze with a £67.5 million ($90.8 million) offer, outmaneuvering rivals Tottenham for the coveted English forward in what would be considered a significant coup. Eze is slated to bow out for Palace in a Europa Conference League qualifier on Thursday, though neither Arsenal nor Palace has officially commented on the transfer.
Key Matchups— A highlight of this Premier League round is Liverpool's visit to Newcastle on Monday. There's added intrigue due to the recent transfer saga involving Liverpool's rejected bid for Swedish striker Alexander Isak. Isak, training separately from the squad, publicly expressed discontent over broken promises, indicating a strained relationship that “can't continue.” Meanwhile, Newcastle insists no satisfactory offers have been received. Isak missed Newcastle's goalless opener against Aston Villa, while Liverpool edged an action-packed 4-2 contest against Bournemouth.
Manchester City will host Tottenham on Saturday in another thrilling encounter after both sides launched their seasons emphatically with City’s 4-0 victory at Wolves and Tottenham's 3-0 home win over Burnley.
Players to Watch— Viktor Gyokeres, who made a quiet Arsenal debut after his high-profile move from Sporting Lisbon, will be eager to make a stronger impression against Leeds. Also, look out for Jack Grealish, potentially making his first start for Everton following a loan from Manchester City, having started on the bench in the previous game against Leeds.
As for Manchester United, could we see Benjamin Sesko starting against Fulham, thereby uniting all three new attacking acquisitions — Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha?
Out of Action— Alexander Isak’s absence for Newcastle against Liverpool looms likely amid his ongoing public fallout. This leaves Newcastle scant in forward options after releasing Callum Wilson without securing a replacement. Meanwhile, Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch returns after suspension. Arsenal’s Kai Havertz might miss out due to a knee concern, potentially paving the way for more game time for Gyokeres, which could have triggered Arsenal's push for Eze's signature.
Off the Field— Tensions could simmer between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest supporters at Selhurst Park. Palace, last season’s FA Cup winners, received a demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League, tangled in a UEFA ownership compliance issue, with accusations of Forest’s involvement due to their ascendancy to the Europa League. Palace chairman Steve Parish expressed his views on the Rest is Football podcast, suggesting that Forest’s ascent exacerbated the issue. Reportedly, Palace fans are planning a protest when they face Forest in their first home match, and discussions with the police for enhanced security are underway. (AP) PDS
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