EPL: Chelsea Target Hull’s Unbeaten Run as Manchester Derby Takes Centre Stage
Enzo Maresca will face his first major examination as Manchester City manager when his side travel to Old Trafford for Sunday’s Manchester derby, while Arsenal look to maintain their perfect start away at Sunderland. City have won all nine of their available Premier League points under Maresca and also began their Champions League campaign with victory in Porto, but their results have arguably concealed some below-par displays. They narrowly overcame Coventry 1-0 last weekend after their opponents missed several opportunities, while two late goals were needed to beat Bournemouth on the opening weekend. The summer also brought significant change, with City spending a record £460 million ($623 million) on new recruits, including midfielders Enzo Fernandez, Elliott Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi, who could make their first start together at Old Trafford. Erling Haaland remains a constant threat, with five goals in four matches taking his career City tally to 167, making him the club’s third-highest scorer. The 26-year-old said he was proud of the numbers but remained hungry for more. United, meanwhile, have taken only four points from their first three league games against Hull, Ipswich and Everton, leaving Michael Carrick’s team in danger of losing ground in the title race.
Elsewhere, unbeaten Hull face one of their toughest challenges yet when they meet Chelsea, after making an impressive return to the top flight without conceding a goal. Chelsea’s attack will provide a stern test following their League Cup victory over Leeds, where Morgan Rogers supplied four assists and Cole Palmer scored twice during a six-goal second half. The result took Chelsea’s tally to 16 goals in five matches under Xabi Alonso, with Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto and Estevao also in form. Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic joked that his plan to stop Chelsea would be to “kick them”, admitting that man-marking the Blues’ attackers would offer little hope. At the bottom, Fulham remain without a point under Alvaro Arbeloa and face a difficult trip to Liverpool, where the former Liverpool player spent two-and-a-half seasons. Arbeloa, favourite to be the first Premier League manager dismissed after three successive defeats, has faced criticism over an expansive approach that has exposed his defence. Liverpool and Manchester United await before a three-week international break that could give Fulham time to reconsider their decision to appoint him. Saturday’s listed fixtures are Bournemouth v Brentford, Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest, Chelsea v Hull, Liverpool v Fulham, Crystal Palace v Ipswich, Tottenham v Everton (1630), and Sunderland v Arsenal (1900). Sunday’s fixtures are Coventry v Brighton (1300) and Arsenal v Chelsea (1530), while Monday brings Leeds v Newcastle (1900).
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