A complete preview and prediction for both of today’s Premier League fixtures on Matchweek 3
Matchweek 3, 2026/27 season | Hill Dickinson Stadium and Emirates Stadium | Sunday 6 September 2026

By The Matchday Pundit

A Genuine Super Sunday on Merseyside and in North London
The Premier League saves two of its most intriguing early season fixtures for today, with a
Merseyside derby of managers taking centre stage on one side of the country and a London derby
carrying genuine title implications on the other. Everton welcome Manchester United to Hill Dickinson
Stadium at two o’clock, before attention shifts to the Emirates Stadium later in the afternoon, where
champions Arsenal host a rejuvenated Chelsea side under Xabi Alonso. Both matches offer
something different. The Merseyside meeting is a study in contrasts between two clubs still finding
their identity under relatively new stewardship, while the north London derby doubles as an early
litmus test between the reigning champions and the team many believe could be their sternest
challenger this season.

What makes today especially compelling is the timing. We are only three matchweeks into the new
campaign, yet both fixtures already carry weight well beyond the usual early season curiosity. Everton
and Manchester United arrive with contrasting recent form but shared frustrations from the opening
weeks, while Arsenal and Chelsea meet as the only two unbeaten sides remaining in the division,
both level on six points and separated by nothing more than goal difference. Few weekends this early
in a season offer this much genuine intrigue across just two fixtures.

Everton versus Manchester United: The David Moyes Reunion
Kick off at Hill Dickinson Stadium is set for 14:00 BST, with referee Craig Pawson taking charge of a
fixture that carries extra emotional weight given David Moyes’s history with the visiting club. Moyes
famously spent over a decade at Everton before being handed the unenviable task of succeeding Sir
Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, a spell that ended in disappointment and has left him with an
unwanted record. Moyes has now lost twenty three times as a manager against Manchester United in
the Premier League, a tally bettered only by Harry Redknapp among his managerial peers. That
personal history adds an extra layer of intrigue to what is already a fascinating early season meeting.

Everton head into the match unbeaten after two league games, sitting on four points following an
opening day win over Crystal Palace and a battling draw away at Bournemouth, a result rescued by a
stoppage time equaliser from James Tarkowski. Moyes has also overseen an EFL Cup victory over
Preston North End during the same period, giving his side momentum and confidence heading into a
fixture that many Evertonians will have circled the moment the season’s schedule was released.

There has been a boost off the pitch too, with the loan return of Jack Grealish from Manchester City
announced on the first of September proving a considerable lift for the squad, even as playmaker
Iliman Ndiaye departed in the opposite direction on the same day after starting both of Everton’s
opening league matches.

Manchester United, under new head coach Michael Carrick, have endured a rockier opening to the
campaign despite an eye catching result last time out. Their season began with a stunning defeat to
newly promoted Hull City, a result that marked the first time in the club’s league history that they had
lost an opening fixture to a team freshly arrived in the top flight. United dominated possession in that
game, recording seventy one point six per cent of the ball, their highest share since September 2023,
and firing in thirty four open play crosses, the most in a single Premier League match for almost eight
years, yet they still lost 2:0. Bruno Fernandes was characteristically honest in his post match
assessment, acknowledging that his side had repeated mistakes from the previous season by
surrendering too much possession to opponents in away matches. United responded in the most
emphatic fashion possible in their following fixture, thrashing Ipswich Town 5:2 at Old Trafford, with
Fernandes scoring a hat trick from just eight shots, matching his joint highest shot count in a Premier
League match, and Bryan Mbeumo adding a spectacular lob to the rout.

History offers a mixed picture for both sides heading into this meeting. United have won seven of the
last ten head to head meetings between the clubs, with Everton claiming two victories and one match
ending level, yet the specific record at Hill Dickinson Stadium tells a slightly different story. Everton
have not beaten Manchester United in a home league game in their last four attempts, a sequence of
results reading one loss, one draw, another loss and a further loss, and United have already won at
this new stadium once before, coming from the bench to score through Sesko in the seventy first
minute back in February 2026. That recent record at the new stadium suggests Moyes’s men will
need to be at their very best to end that particular run against the club he once managed.

Team news for the hosts is largely positive. Despite a lack of fresh faces arriving during the summer
transfer window, Moyes has no new injury concerns to contend with heading into the match, a rare
piece of good fortune this deep into a demanding early season schedule. Jordan Pickford is expected
to continue in goal behind a back four of Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and
Vitalii Mykolenko, while James Garner and Adam Armstrong look set to anchor midfield. Further
forward, the returning Jack Grealish is in line to feature alongside Kiernan Dewsbury Hall, with
Thierno Barry continuing to lead the line having already scored in four goals across his opening three
appearances of the campaign, form that will worry a United defence still settling into a new look under
Carrick.

For Manchester United, Carrick looks set to make relatively few changes from the side that
dismantled Ipswich, though Kobbie Mainoo could retain his place in central midfield alongside Youri
Tielemans following an injury to Carlos Baleba. Luke Shaw, withdrawn late in the win over Ipswich
with muscle tightness, is expected to be fit enough to feature from the outset. Senne Lammens
continues in goal behind a back line of Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Shaw,
while Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford support Matheus Cunha in attack alongside the in form
Mbeumo. There remains uncertainty over striker Benjamin Sesko, with Carrick confirming this week
that the forward continues to build his match fitness gradually following time out, though a place
among the substitutes appears the most realistic outcome for Sunday.

The tactical picture suggests this could be a genuinely open affair. Both sides jointly lead the division
for direct attacking sequences through two matchweeks, with six apiece, a statistic that hints strongly
at end to end football rather than a cagey, cautious contest. United’s uncertain defensive record
against promoted opposition, having now conceded to both Hull and briefly threatened by Ipswich
before their own quality told, will encourage Everton to believe they can create chances of their own,
particularly with Barry’s scoring form and Grealish’s return offering fresh attacking impetus. Current
bookmaker prices make United favourites at six to five, with Everton priced at nine to four and the
draw available at five to two, odds that reflect a contest expected to be far closer than the underlying
quality gap between the two squads might otherwise suggest.

Taking all of this into account, our prediction leans toward a share of the spoils rather than a definitive
winner. Everton’s underlying numbers already show they are capable of taking points from matches
they do not fully control, evidenced by their comeback at Bournemouth, and Thierno Barry’s early
season scoring form gives them a genuine route to goals against a United defence that has already
shown vulnerability to direct, quick attacking sides. United, for their part, showed the destructive
quality they possess going forward against Ipswich, and Fernandes in this kind of form is capable of
deciding matches almost single handedly. Expect a tight, entertaining contest that ends level,
somewhere in the region of one goal apiece or perhaps two goals each if both defences continue to
show early season generosity, with neither manager quite able to find the moment of control needed
to see out a full three points.

Arsenal versus Chelsea: A Genuine Heavyweight Collision
The day’s headline fixture arrives later in the afternoon, with kick off at the Emirates Stadium set for
16:30 BST and referee Chris Kavanagh taking charge. Both Arsenal and Chelsea head into the
match unbeaten after two rounds, level on six points, though the way each side has arrived at that
identical tally could hardly look more different. Arsenal have been the picture of defensive control,
scoring four goals without conceding a single one so far this season, while Chelsea have been
involved in an attacking carnival, with twelve goals shared between their opening two matches, the
highest total in the entire division through this stage of the campaign.

Arsenal’s path to a perfect start has been built on a foundation of composure rather than spectacle.
Mikel Arteta’s side beat Coventry City 3:0 to open their league campaign before grinding out a
narrower 1:0 win away at Aston Villa, a result that owed as much to defensive resilience as attacking
flair. That victory maintained an extraordinary record in this fixture specifically, with Arsenal now
unbeaten in each of their last sixteen Premier League London derbies, a run comprising twelve wins
and four draws that speaks to just how dominant Arteta’s side have become against local rivals in
recent seasons. Arsenal have also already claimed silverware this season, beating Manchester City
3:0 in the Community Shield, a scoreline they then somehow repeated against Coventry on the
opening weekend of the league campaign.

Chelsea’s start under new head coach Xabi Alonso has been rather more chaotic, if no less effective
in terms of results. The Spaniard’s reign began with a hard fought 3:2 win over Fulham before an
extraordinary 4:3 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion that had almost everything: Chelsea raced
into a three goal lead, were pulled back to three goals to two, restored their two goal cushion, and
then survived a nervy stoppage time scare to hold on for the points. Alonso’s understated reaction
afterward, in which he described himself as simply not excited despite the dramatic nature of the
victory, hinted at a manager already focused on fixing defensive issues that have plagued his side
even amid the goals.

Chelsea have not kept a clean sheet in eighteen consecutive league matches,
their longest such run since the 1960 to 1961 season, a statistic that underlines just how significant
defensive fragility remains even as the goals continue to flow at the other end of the pitch. A win
today would also see Chelsea open a season with four straight victories across all competitions for
the first time since Antonio Conte’s title winning campaign in 2016 to 2017.

Team news is a live issue for both managers heading into kick off. Arsenal have injury concerns
surrounding Bruno Guimaraes and Cristhian Mosquera, both of whom picked up problems during the
win at Aston Villa, with Arteta confirming that Guimaraes suffered a knock while Mosquera was forced
off during the game itself. Decisions on both players’ involvement were expected to be made close to
kick off. There was better news regarding Jurrien Timber, who has returned to full training as he
continues his recovery from injury, while William Saliba remains a longer term absentee, though
Arteta described the defender’s recent progress as genuinely encouraging.

With those uncertainties in mind, Arsenal look likely to field David Raya in goal behind a back line featuring some combination
of Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ezri Konsa and Riccardo Calafiori, with Declan Rice anchoring
midfield alongside options including Myles Lewis Skelly or Kai Havertz in deeper positions. Bukayo
Saka, Martin Odegaard and either Eze, Havertz or Viktor Gyokeres are expected to lead the attacking
line, with Saka set to take on penalty duties given Gyokeres has not featured on the pitch long
enough this season to claim that responsibility outright.

Chelsea’s own team news is similarly complicated. Moises Caicedo and Marco Palestra are both
doubts, while Jordan Henderson is not considered fully available for selection either, leaving Alonso
with defensive and midfield decisions to make just as significant as those facing his counterpart in the
home dugout.

Robert Sanchez or Gaga Slonina could continue in goal behind a back three likely to
be drawn from Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile, with Reece
James and Alex Scott or Andrey Santos providing width and energy from wing back positions. Enzo
Fernandez’s summer departure to Manchester City has left Chelsea’s midfield and set piece
responsibilities notably thinner than a year ago, with James and Cole Palmer now expected to take on
almost all dead ball duties. Palmer and Estevao or Marc Guiu are likely to support Joao Pedro in
behind a front line that has already shown it can trouble even well organised defences this season.

The tactical framing for this fixture is remarkably clean: does Arsenal’s defensive control triumph over
Chelsea’s attacking chaos, or does Chelsea’s firepower finally break Arsenal’s perfect defensive
record for the season. Analysts have widely framed this as a defence versus attack collision, and with
Arsenal boasting a clean bill of health in the final third for the time being, many previewers believe the
champions possess enough attacking quality themselves to expose the same defensive frailties that
have troubled Chelsea against Fulham and Brighton already this season. Current bookmaker odds
make Arsenal clear favourites at four to six, with Chelsea out at fifteen to four and the draw priced at
fourteen to five, a market that reflects strong confidence in Arsenal’s ability to finally end Chelsea’s
remarkable defensive struggles this season.

History between the two clubs has generally favoured the hosts in recent seasons, with Arsenal
winning the corresponding fixture 2:1 back in March, and the north London side’s overall dominance
in this fixture over the last several years giving Arteta’s players every reason for confidence heading
into kick off.

That said, Chelsea’s attacking talent this season looks a cut above previous campaigns,
and a Chelsea side capable of scoring three or four goals in a single match should never be
discounted, even against the division’s most miserly defence to date.

Weighing the full picture, this looks a fixture where Arsenal’s defensive discipline should ultimately
prove decisive, even if Chelsea’s attacking talent guarantees a nervy afternoon at times for the home
crowd. Arsenal’s ability to control games without needing to dominate the scoreline has been the
defining trait of their title winning campaign, and facing a Chelsea defence that has conceded freely
against both Fulham and Brighton represents exactly the kind of opportunity Saka, Odegaard and the
rest of Arsenal’s attacking unit should be able to exploit. Expect Arsenal to end their spotless
defensive record at some point during the afternoon given the sheer attacking talent Chelsea can call
upon, but for the champions to ultimately have too much control and quality across the full ninety
minutes. A scoreline somewhere in the region of two goals to one in Arsenal’s favour feels like the
most balanced prediction, with a slightly higher scoring alternative of three goals to two also entirely
plausible given the attacking talent on show from both sides.

Five Storylines Worth Following Across Both Fixtures
The first storyline to track today is simply how David Moyes approaches facing the club that once
employed him for over a decade. Emotion rarely wins football matches on its own, but a fired up Hill
Dickinson Stadium crowd fully aware of their manager’s history with the visitors could provide an extra
edge that helps carry Everton through the tighter moments of the contest.
Second, keep a close eye on how Manchester United’s defence copes without the injured Baleba
shielding the back line. United have already shown defensive fragility against both promoted sides
they have faced this season, and Everton’s improved attacking form under Moyes, spearheaded by
Thierno Barry, gives them every chance of exploiting any gaps that appear.

Third, watch whether Arsenal’s makeshift defensive options, with both Guimaraes and Mosquera
carrying knocks, can hold firm against a Chelsea front line that has scored twelve goals in two
matches already this season. Any uncertainty at the back could be the opening Chelsea need to
finally get their name on the scoresheet against the league’s most miserly defence.

Fourth, there is the broader question of whether Xabi Alonso can finally find defensive solidity to
match his side’s obvious attacking talent. Eighteen matches without a clean sheet is an extraordinary
run for a club with genuine title ambitions, and how Chelsea’s makeshift back three copes with
Arsenal’s movement in behind will say a great deal about whether Alonso’s early defensive concerns
are close to being resolved.

Fifth, and perhaps most intriguing for neutral fans, is simply how each result shapes the very early
Premier League table heading into the September international break. A big win for either Arsenal or
Chelsea would open a meaningful early gap at the top of the division, while a draw would keep both
sides level and set up a fascinating narrative for when the two clubs meet again later in the season.

What Today’s Results Could Mean Going Forward
For Everton, a positive result against Manchester United would extend their unbeaten start to the
season and provide further evidence that David Moyes has quickly built a side capable of competing
with, and even troubling, the traditional powers of English football. Momentum matters enormously in
the early weeks of a season, and a result today would give Moyes’s rebuilding project genuine
credibility heading into a testing run of fixtures still to come. For Manchester United, meanwhile,
victory at Hill Dickinson Stadium would go a long way toward erasing memories of that shock opening
day defeat to Hull City and give Michael Carrick real confidence that his side’s destructive display
against Ipswich was the true indicator of their quality this season rather than a one off.

At the Emirates, the stakes feel even higher given both sides’ perfect start to the campaign. A win for
Arsenal would send an unmistakable message to the rest of the division that last season’s title
triumph was no fluke and that Arteta’s side remain the team to beat this season. A win for Chelsea, on
the other hand, would represent the clearest possible signal yet that Xabi Alonso’s rebuilding project
at Stamford Bridge is ahead of schedule, and would immediately reframe the conversation around
this season’s title race to include Chelsea as genuine contenders rather than simply making up the
numbers behind Arsenal and Liverpool. Whatever unfolds across both fixtures today, this Super
Sunday promises to tell us a great deal about where several of England’s biggest clubs truly stand
three matchweeks into the new Premier League season.

Matchday Pundit