Bournemouth head coach Scott Parker was the first Premier League manager to be relieved of his duties after the Cherries suffered an historic 9-0 away defeat to Liverpool. But it was not so much the manner of the defeat that got Parker the sack but his post-match comments that riled the suits at the South Coast club. Elsewhere, Harry Kane scored his 200th goal in the English top flight as Spurs won away to Nottingham Forest.

Fantasy managers have a significant challenge in the coming months, with several midweek league and European fixtures scheduled between September and November to make up for the winter staging of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Strong options for the coming period include Forest goalkeeper Dean Henderson and Brentford striker Ivan Toney. The continental transfer window will close on the eve of publication, so expect fresh stars to step into the Fantasy Premier League fold.

Saturday

Everton v Liverpool

8.30am

Everton secured a 1-1 away draw with Leeds United midweek. Yerry Mina, Mason Holgate, Ben Godfrey, Andros Townsend, Abdoulaye Doucouré, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are out for various injuries, while André Gomes is doubtful with a muscle injury.

Liverpool must contend with several injuries this weekend. Ibrahima Konaté, Calvin Ramsay, Thiago Alcãntara, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keïta and Diogo Jota remain out, with Caoimhin Kelleher, Joel Matip and Curtis Jones doubtful because of a lack of fitness for this Merseyside derby.

These fierce rivals are separated by just ten miles of the Mersey River, although the Reds dominate one of the most physical derbies in the English game, winning 26 of their 60 encounters.

Prediction: 1-2

Brentford v Leeds United

11am

Brentford have lost just once in their first four games. Sergi Canós and Ethan Pinnock are out because of injury, while Pontus Jansson and Kristoffer Ajer are unlikely to feature for the Bees.

Luis Sinisterra scored his first goal in English football in Leeds’s 1-1 draw with Everton on Tuesday. Luke Ayling, Stuart Dallas and Junior Firpo are out for the Whites, while Liam Cooper and Rodrigo are doubts.

These clubs have met just twice, but the Yorkshire side took home the points on their only previous visit to the Brentford Community Stadium.

Prediction: 1-1

Chelsea v West Ham United

11am

Chelsea squandered an early lead to lose 2-1 away to Southampton on Tuesday. N’Golo Kanté is out with a hamstring injury this weekend, while Reece James, Nathaniel Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are doubtful.

West Ham were victorious 1-0 away to Aston Villa for their first points of the campaign last week. New recruit Nayef Aguerd, who signed from French side Rennes, is sidelined with an ankle injury, while Craig Dawson (thigh) and Ben Johnson (knock) are doubts.

The Blues historically are favourites in this East versus West rivalry, with 28 wins from 52 total meetings.

Prediction: 2-1

Newcastle United v Crystal Palace

11am

Before their heartbreaking defeat by Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday, Newcastle had registered three straight draws. Emil Krafth, Jonjo Shelvey and Callum Wilson are out for the Magpies, while Bruno Guimarães, Allan Saint-Maximin and Kieran Trippier are doubtful this weekend.

Crystal Palace withstood late pressure, but held to a 1-1 home draw with Brentford on Tuesday. James Tomkins, Nathan Ferguson and James McArthur are out, while goalkeeper Jack Butland is doubtful for the journey to Tyneside.

The Magpies own the history of this match-up, winning 11 of 22 overall encounters. However, they have split the past five, each team winning twice.

Prediction: 1-1

Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth

11am

Forest were punished for a lack of clinical edge in the home loss to Tottenham. Moussa Niakhaté, Omar Richards and Orel Mangala are out for lead coach Steve Cooper.

Bournemouth will be coached by caretaker Gary O’Neil for the upcoming visit to the City Ground after the humbling defeat at Anfield last week. Junior Stanislas, David Brooks and new recruit Joe Rothwell are out with various injuries, with Lloyd Kelly, Jamal Lowe, Ryan Fredericks and Ben Pearson doubtful.

This is the first top-flight meeting between these two clubs, but they have met ten times in the second tier since 2005.

Prediction: 2-0

Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham

11am

Spurs remain unbeaten after the shutout win at Forest last week. Lucas Moura and Bryan Gil are out, the latter scheduled to return to the squad, while Cristian Romero and Oliver Skipp are doubtful owing to lack of fitness.

Fulham returned to winning ways with the 2-1 home result over Brighton on Tuesday. Harry Wilson and new recruit Manor Solomon are out with knee injuries for the short trip to North London.

These teams have faced off 30 times in the Premier League, with Spurs winning 16.

Prediction: 2-0

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Southampton

11am

Wolves have struggled to find the net so far, scoring only twice in their first five games. Francisco Oliveira is the only injury for manager Bruno Lage.

Southampton could not break down a solid Manchester United defence, falling to a home defeat. Tino Livramento is out this week for the South Coast club with a knee injury, while Roméo Lavia is doubtful.

The West Midlands outfit edge this rivalry, with five wins to Saints’ two from ten meetings.

Prediction: 1-1

Aston Villa v Manchester City

1.30pm

Villa remain winless after the home loss to West Ham last weekend and 2-1 defeat by Arsenal this midweek. Diego Carlos, who successfully endured surgery for an Achilles tendon injury, remains out, with Tyrone Mings, Philippe Coutinho and Cameron Archer doubtful.

New signing Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick to lead Manchester City to a home victory over Crystal Palace and then repeated the trick in a 6-0 hammering of Nottingham Forest on Wednesday. Key defenders Nathan Aké and Aymeric Laporte are out for the Premier League champions, while Luke Mbete, Jack Grealish, and new recruit Kalvin Phillips are doubtful.

The Clarets have struggled against the six-times champions, winning just seven of 44 overall matches.

Prediction: 1-3

Sunday

Brighton & Hove Albion v Leicester City

10am

Brighton suffered their first loss of the season away to Fulham on Tuesday. Adam Lallana, Jakub Moder and Jeremy Sarmiento are out this weekend.

Leicester have started quite poorly this term, earning just one point from their first five games. Ryan Bertrand and Ricardo Pereira are out, while James Maddison is doubtful with a muscle injury.

The Foxes dominate this head-to-head, winning six of the ten encounters with the Seagulls.

Prediction: 2-2

Manchester United v Arsenal

12.30pm

Manchester United recorded consecutive wins for the first time since February, the second of which came away to Southampton last Saturday. Facundo Pellistri (ankle) is out, while Anthony Martial (Achilles) and Victor Lindelöf (fitness) are doubts.

Arsenal continued their dominant start with the 2-1 home win over Fulham. However, Reiss Nelson will miss for the trip to Old Trafford, while Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey are doubts.

The Gunners have enjoyed this contest in recent seasons, winning three of the past five meetings, but United lead the overall series 25-17.

Prediction: 2-1