Premier League forecast: Chelsea 21/31 Fulham, Manchester United 21/30 Bourne, Brighton 12/23 Manchester City

From 19:30 on August 30 to 02:00 on September 1, the 2025-2026 Premier League season will be held in the third round this weekend. In this round, there will be a focus match between Tottenham and Bournemouth, Brighton and Manchester City, and Liverpool and Arsenal.

In this round, due to the arrival of the first international match day of the season, the match will be completed within two days.

According to the practice, before the game starts, let’s take a look at the predictions from British media (people) and data institutions, and hope to become a weather vane for this round of league!

Opta probability prediction

Chelsea vs. Fulham: 59.4%-21.2%-19.4%

Manchester United vs. Burnley: 68%-18.4%-13.6%

Sunderland vs. Brentford: 33.2%-28.1%-38. 7%

Tottenham Hotspur vs Bournemouth: 52.7%-22.7%-24.6%

Wolves vs Everton: 38.3%-27.8%-33.9%

Leeds United vs Newcastle: 29.5%-25.8%-44.7%

Brighton vs Manchester City: 25.9%-23.8 %-50.3%

Nottingham Forest vs West Ham: 55%-23.9%-21.1%

Liverpool vs Arsenal: 44.9%-25.4%-29.7%

Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace: 49.4%-25%-25.6%

Media forecast: Sky Sports (TV sports expert Louis Jones)

Chelsea 2-1 Fulham

From past match data, this will definitely be a fierce confrontation, and his manifestation is in the number of cards he eats - according to statistics, in the last 10 Premier League seasons, the number of yellow cards per game in each game before the first international match day is usually more than the average of the match season. 0.64 pictures. As an example, 5.6 cards were generated for each of the 10 games on the third match day. This is a big number.

So, considering such a point in time and the background of the London derby, it will definitely be an extremely fierce match against it.

Of course, judging from the current strength comparison between Chelsea and Fulham, even if the game is intense, the final outcome will be decided. And the winner is definitely Chelsea.

Manchester United 1-2 Burnley

Under Amorin's leadership, Manchester United has been unreliable, especially against teams who can pass three consecutive times under pressure. Just like the result of the British League Cup against low-level teams. Moreover, Amorin lost a total of 16 of the 29 league games, which makes it difficult for the Red Devils to find the pace of winning in the league today.

Considering that Manchester United's forward still seems to have not found form, they may still not be able to win the first victory of the season.

Sunderland 2-2 Brentford

Sunderland's advantage is that they are a team that is dangerous in set-piece offense and they also have a central defender with goals. So, even without Thomas Frank, Brentford is still the most efficient team in the league in set pieces.

They are second in the expected set-piece goals (33.2) since the start of the 23/24 season and have created 1.3 expected goals with set-pieces at the beginning of the season, including a mid-week against Bournemouth.

Therefore, even when playing away games, even when facing Sunderland, whose condition and performance exceeded expectations this season, it seems that the probability of the Bees getting points away is quite high, and both sides may not be the kind of 0-0 draw.

Tottenham Hotspur's rise 3-1 Bournemouth

Risalisson was not expected this season.

Frank is a master coaching forward players. Just look at his achievements at Brentford - Watkins, Ivan Tony, Mbeumo, etc. Frank showed everyone who once saw Risalisson in Everton - playing positively and eager to change the game. Of course, he scored twice in his last home game against Burnley, so he is also optimistic about his goal in this game; Bournemouth, coached by Elaura, hopes to squeeze the opponent's space through high pressing and frontcourt offense, but this will also leave a huge gap in his defense, especially in the middle, where their central defenders are encouraged to actively attack. After Heisen and Zabarney, they need time to adapt to the new defensive rhythm. Win at home.

Wolves 1-2 Everton

Glalish may make a huge difference to the Toffees this season - at Everton, he has become the core of the offense, as Everton's ball has been staying on the side where he is. And his task is to cut in, keep passing the ball and make more threatening attempts. But at Everton, with a more direct and counter-focused system, he is more vertical and creative—as his two assists against Brighton last weekend and his midweek assist against Mansfield.

Therefore, with the joining of Gallish, Everton's ability to win this season will inevitably improve.

Leeds United 1-0 Newcastle

Last season's newly promoted teams - Ipswich, Southampton and Leicester City, combined home games last season, only won six games; while this season's newly promoted teams Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland won three games. The atmosphere, energy, and excitement at Elland Road Stadium meant that meeting Leeds United here would be a nightmare for opponents. And Everton has discovered this in the opening game.

It can be said that without Isaac, Gordon, and an experienced striker, which means Newcastle is nearly impossible to score. If the striker is removed and the absence of the other two midfielders, Leeds United is likely to score three points again. 15 of 87 Premier League goals in Brighton 1-2 Manchester City

Haaland heads, but considering Manchester City's new tactical style in the offensive third zone, his heading contribution will continue to rise. It can be seen from the beginning of the game against Wolves that the addition of Reindes makes Manchester City's offense more direct. Moreover, Manchester City is indeed looking for Haaland in the penalty area through more crosses.

In two games this season, Haaland has completed five headers. And such data may mean that they will open their goal account through Haaland's high point away in this game.

Nottingham Forest 3-1 West Ham United

In the last game before the international match day, an interesting statistics appeared: the average number of goals will increase at this time compared to the average number of goals in the season.

The last six seasons, on the match day before the first international match day, the average number of goals scored per game was 3.3. If we compare this number with the average number of goals per game in the Premier League in the six seasons, 2.8, we will find that the number of goals per game on this match day is 0.5 more than those in these six seasons. This is a huge difference for a low-scoring sport like football.

West Ham has conceded 11 goals so far this season, and Porter doesn't seem to show any sign that he will solve this obvious problem in this game.

Liverpool 1-1Arsenal

If you want to ask whether Slot and Arteta will accept a draw now? The answer is undoubtedly yes!

It is very rare to play a game between two teams competing for the championship before the fourth week of the game. Looking back at the trends in previous seasons such games, draws are very common.

Considering that the levels between the two sides are almost different, perhaps the draw will be the most likely result in this game!

Aston Villa 1-1 Crystal Palace

If some evidence is needed to prove why Glasner is such an excellent coach, just look at his game record against Emery, who is arguably the best coach in Europe - Glasner has won four of his last five encounters with Emery, with a goal difference of 17-4, and the Austrian won.

Emery has not found a way to break through the low-post defense in Crystal Palace, and Glasner's tactics using the speed and strength of the player is very dangerous, Sal.

Sal has performed well in these matches, and has participated in seven goals in the last 3 games against Villa.

So, even though Crystal Palace has suffered serious losses and even if they are still playing away, they still have hope of getting points in the game against Villa!

Sports Illustrated FC (formerly 90MIN)

Chelsea 3-1 Fulham

Wolves 1-1 Everton

Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Bournemouth

Manchester United 2-1 Burnley

Sunderland 0-0 Brentford

Leeds United 1-2 Newcastle

Brighton 2-3 Manchester City

Nottingham Forest 2-0 West Ham

Liverpool 3-3 Arsenal

Aston Villa 0-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal legend, Paul Merson predicts

Chelsea 2-1 Fulham

Wolves 1-1 Everton

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Bournemouth

Manchester United 3-0 Burnley

Sunderland 0-1 Brentford

Leeds United 1-1 Newcastle

Brighton 1-1 Manchester City

Nottingham Forest 2-0 West Ham

Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal

Aston Villa 1-1 Crystal Palace