This Premier League preview sees the return of club football after a week of International matches. To kick us off Manchester United face Arsenal at Old Trafford, in a match that will be huge for both sides as they look to move forward.
United will need this home win, having failed to beat any of their title rivals this season. Arsenal will seek to enhance their title credentials and close the gap on Liverpool who have a two point advantage.
Manchester United vs Arsenal – Saturday 19th November 2016 – 12:30 - Sky Sports 1
Manchester United welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, in a huge first match back after the international break.
Manchester United come into this match in mixed form, they do however come into this match on the back of a 3-1 win away at the Liberty Stadium.
Goals from Paul Pogba (15) and a double from previously goal-shy Zlatan Ibrahimovic (21, 33) settled the tie in favour of United.
United will be deeply disappointed to have conceded a goal having been so dominant in the match, with a goal from Mike van der Hoorn (69).
United Too Slow In Attack
Manchester United have struggled in recent games, they have looked devoid of ideas in attack and have failed to move through the gears quickly enough.
They lost their last fixture against Fenerbahce 2-1, a result that Mourinho was very unhappy with, claiming the players had treated it as a pre-season friendly.
The Swansea result will have given them confidence but they remain a side that is very inconsistent.
United Favourites
Manchester United do come into this match as favourites, despite their poor form in front of goal and their defensive injury crisis.
This will be a tough fixture for Jose Mourinho's side, with Arsenal in excellent form and so far have overcome every difficult obstacle of yesteryear.
United will be looking to continue their overall record against Arsenal, in 182 meetings they have won 78, drawn 42 and lost 62 times.
United are 6/4 with Marcus Rashford at 5/1 to score first.
Gunners In Exceptional Form
The visitors Arsenal come into this match on the back of a 1-1 draw at home against Tottenham, a result that ultimately will have disappointed Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal took the lead through a Kevin Wimmer own goal in the 42nd minute, although replays showed the defender was very unlucky, with two Arsenal players offside but deemed to be inactive.
Laurent Koscielny brought down Moussa Dembele, with the French international usually composed and assured at the back, making a categorical error.
Harry Kane, who was making a return from a seven-week injury lay-off, duly stepped up and levelled the score from the spot for Spurs.
Massive Game For Arsenal
That result will have slightly disappointed manager Arsene Wenger, with Arsenal likely to want to maximise home advantage.
Arsenal have only lost one game in all competitions this season, that was the opening day defeat against Liverpool at the Emirates.
Since then the additions of Mustafi, Perez and Xhaka have strengthened Arsenal, with the talent of Sanchez, Ozil, Koscielny and Cech leaving Arsenal with one of the best sides they have ever had.
Gunners Underdogs
Arsenal head into this fixture as the underdogs, with home advantage favouring United.
They will be looking to register their eighth win of the season, they will also be looking to register a sixth win in eight matches.
Arsene Wenger's men will be looking to better their recent record against United, they have won just once in their last ten Premier League meetings.
Arsenal are 9/5 with Olivier Giroud at 11/2 to open the scoring.
In the second match of this preview Crystal Palace host Manchester City looking to end their dismal run of form.
Palace have lost their way in recent times and are now looking to end a run of four successive defeats, although in Manchester City they hardly face ideal opponents to end such a run.
For City, they will be looking to improve on their recent results, with consistency their greatest enemy at this stage. They will be looking to build on the Barcelona result which will have given them incredible confidence and momentum.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City – Saturday 19th November 2016 – 15:00
Crystal Palace welcome Manchester City to Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon, with both sides looking for a much needed three points.
They lost their last fixture against Burnley 3-2, a result that will have disappointed manager Alan Pardew.
Goals from Sam Vokes (2), Johann Berg Gudmundsson (14) and a late goal from Ashley Barnes (90+4) secured all three points for Burnley.
Connor Wickham (60) and Christian Benteke (81 pen), pegged Burnley back but ultimately Palace failed to defend properly and it has cost them dear.
Palace Looking For Upturn In Fortunes
Crystal Palace come into this match in appalling form, with four successive defeats and just one win in their last six Premier League games.
Alan Pardew will be looking to end this sequence as soon as possible, they find themselves 16th in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone.
The Eagles have conceded 11 goals in their last four matches, with no clean sheets in their last six matches, they have conceded the 5th most goals this season.
Eagles Underdogs
Crystal Palace come into this match as underdogs, with the clubs recent dismal record, the bookies cannot see them ending their recent poor run of form.
They have taken just four points from a possible 18, and they have already suffered six defeats this season.
This will be a tough fixture for Alan Pardew's side, their recent record against Manchester City is appalling, winning just once in their last eleven meetings.
Crystal Palace are 19/4 with Christian Benteke at 15/2 to score first.
City Looking For Consistency
Manchester City travel to Selhurst Park on the back of a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough at the Etihad prior to the international break.
Sergio Aguero (43) opened the scoring, continuing his excellent start to this season, despite dominating possession they were unable to convert any more chances.
They were made to pay late on when Marten de Roon (90+1) popped up with a header, to give Boro a share of the spoils against more top class opposition.
City Had Rediscovered Spark
The excellent result against Barcelona had given Manchester City incredible confidence going into the Middlesbrough match.
However the dominance during their performance against Middlesbrough will make it all the more disappointing that they failed to get the three points.
It would have seen Manchester City rebuild again, with three successive wins but the result means they are still striving for their early season consistency.
They have slipped below Liverpool and Chelsea as a result, Guardiola and his side will want to regain top spot but have two points of ground to gain on Jurgen Klopp's men.
City Favourites
Unsurprisingly Manchester City head into this fixture as the favourites, with their excellent season and the quality of their squad taken into account.
They will be looking to register their 8th win of the season, they will also be looking to register a third win in four matches.
Pep Guardiola's men will be looking to continue their excellent record against Crystal Palace, with City winning 19, drawing 9 and losing 10 of their 38 meetings.
Manchester City are 8/15 with Sergio Aguero at 5/2 to open the scoring.
The final match of this preview sees Everton face Swansea at Goodison Park.
Everton will be looking to bounce back after their humiliating defeat at Stamford Bridge, with Ronald Koeman and his side now fully aware of the gap that exists between themselves and the top four and they will need to bounce back against a Swansea side that are second bottom of the Premier League.
Swansea will also need to bounce back from a hefty defeat in the Premier League at the hands of Manchester United. They find themselves now level on points with Sunderland and five off Hull City who are in 18th place, they have yet to win under new manager Bob Bradley and time is running out for the Swans even at this early stage.
Everton vs Swansea – Saturday 19th November 2016 – 15:00
Everton welcome Swansea to Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon, with both sides coming into the match on the back of heavy defeats.
Everton come into this match in poor form, having been handed a footballing lesson by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Eden Hazard (19, 56), Marcus Alonso (20), Diego Costa (42) and finally Pedro (65) gave the Toffees their heaviest defeat under new manager Ronald Koeman.
It was a match that saw Everton totally outclassed, with Koeman opting to match Chelsea with a back three of his own.
Toffees In Need Of Run
Unfortunately for Everton it was a bridge too far, with Chelsea in excellent form probably not the side to be experimenting defensively against.
It has to an extent undone the excellent work and momentum gathered during the West Ham win, with Lukaku and Barkley having excellent matches.
That was Koeman's third defeat of the new season, with Everton enjoying an excellent start to the season under the dutchman.
They are still well placed, with 18 points from their opening 11 games leaving them level with Manchester United in 7th place.
Toffees Favourites
Everton come into this match as favourites, despite the club's excellent position overall, they find themselves in poor recent form.
This will be a tough fixture for Ronald Koeman's side, with Swansea another side in a tough run of form and sooner or later they will come good under their new manager.
The Toffees will be looking to continue their overall record against Swansea, with 9 wins, 5 draws and 2 defeats in 16 games.
Everton are 4/7 with Romelu Lukaku at 3/1 to score first.
Swansea Continue The Rot
The visitors Swansea travel to Goodison on the back of a 3-1 defeat at home against Manchester United, prior to the international break.
Goals from Paul Pogba (15) and a double from previously goal-shy Zlatan Ibrahimovic (21, 33) settled the tie in favour of United.
Swansea managed to score a consolation goal despite being largely outclassed in this fixture, with a goal from Mike van der Hoorn (69).
Swans In Poor Form
It was another frustrating game for Swansea and for their new manager Bob Bradley, who is yet to win a match with his new club.
Their run of five defeats and a draw is the worst in the Premier League, with the Swans failing to win a game since their opening fixture.
Swansea have conceded 14 goals in their last six games, with the 3-1 defeat against United the third time they have lost by that scoreline, with Stoke and Manchester City inflicting the same scoreline upon them.
They are second bottom in the Premier League, with five points from their opening eleven matches. They are now tied with Sunderland and five points adrift of Hull City.
Swans Underdogs
Swansea head into this fixture as the underdogs with their league form and just one win this season taken into account.
They will be looking to register their second win of the season, they will also be looking to give their manager a much-needed win.
Bob Bradley's men will be looking to better their poor record against Everton, although they did win the last encounter between the two sides 2-1.
Swansea are 9/2 with Gylfi Sigurdsson, Fernando Llorente and Borja Baston all at 9/1 to open the scoring.
Betting Tips
Tip 1 – Pogba to score first @ 15/2 and United to win 3-2 @ 33/1
Tip 2 – Aguero to score first @ 5/2 and Manchester City to win 3-1 @ 10/1
Tip 3 – Lukaku to score first @ 3/1 and Swansea to win 2-1 @ 16/1