Premier League GW2: Liverpool, Tottenham, Fulham chase first wins this weekend

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Premier League GW2: Liverpool, Tottenham, Fulham chase first wins this weekend

Synopsis

Three Premier League clubs — Liverpool, Tottenham, and Fulham — head into the weekend still without a win, while Hull City's 18-summer-signing experiment faces its sternest test yet against Aston Villa. Sunday's Arsenal vs Chelsea clash could define early-season momentum in the top half.

Key Takeaways

Liverpool visit Ipswich Town on Friday, 3 September with coach Andoni Iraola yet to record a Premier League win.
Bradley Barcola , signed from Paris Saint-Germain , is expected to feature off the bench for Liverpool.
Tottenham face Nottingham Forest to avoid a third straight league defeat after their 2-0 loss to Newcastle .
Fulham remain pointless under new coach Alvaro Arbeloa ; they host Crystal Palace in a south London derby.
Hull City have made 18 summer signings , including five on deadline day , and host Aston Villa on Saturday.
Arsenal host Chelsea on Sunday in a major early test of Chelsea's defensive resilience.

Liverpool travel to newly-promoted Ipswich Town on Friday, 3 September to kick off the weekend's Premier League fixtures, with head coach Andoni Iraola still searching for his first victory in charge. The Reds arrive under pressure, with defensive questions unresolved ahead of their Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid the following week. Late-window arrival Bradley Barcola, signed from Paris Saint-Germain, is expected to begin on the bench but is likely to feature.

Key Matches to Watch

Tottenham Hotspur head to Nottingham Forest desperate to avoid a third consecutive league defeat after last weekend's 2-0 home loss to Newcastle United. Summer spending has so far failed to silence doubts around Spurs, while Forest arrive buoyed by the hard-earned draw they claimed at Anfield seven days ago.

Fulham, still without a point under new coach Alvaro Arbeloa, host Crystal Palace in a south London derby. New striker Gonzalo, who arrived from Real Madrid, has impressed early on. Palace, also coming off back-to-back defeats, will look to new signings Ben Chilwell and Quinten Timber to make an immediate difference under coach Pierre Sage.

City, Newcastle and the Rest

Manchester City host Coventry, who are still seeking their first points since returning to the top flight. City welcome back midfielder Enzo Fernandez, reunited with manager Enzo Maresca after a big-money move from Chelsea. Newcastle United, whose 2-0 win at Tottenham suggested the squad is adapting well to coach Matthias Jaissle, now host Bournemouth — a side showing improvement under Marco Rose but prone to conceding late.

Brentford continue their solid start under Keith Andrews, while Sunderland carry confidence from a 1-0 win over Fulham last weekend — their first points of the campaign. Leeds United visit Brighton in what promises to be an open contest, and Hull City — bolstered by 18 summer signings, including five on deadline day — host Aston Villa at home, looking to extend their impressive early-season form with their trademark counter-attacking and set-piece threat.

Sunday's Headline Fixtures

Manchester United make the short trip to Everton, whose supporters remain underwhelmed by the club's transfer activity this summer. The day's standout tie sees Arsenal host Chelsea — a fixture that will serve as a significant test of Chelsea's reportedly fragile defensive unit.

What's at Stake

Several clubs — Liverpool, Tottenham, and Fulham among them — cannot afford further dropped points if they are to avoid an early-season crisis. For newly-promoted sides like Ipswich and Coventry, every point on the board before the international break carries extra weight. The weekend's results will sharpen the picture at both ends of the table heading into the first midweek round of fixtures.

Point of View

Not by those with them. Iraola's Liverpool are the most alarming case — defensive fragility ahead of a Champions League campaign is a structural problem, not a run-of-form blip. Tottenham's summer outlay has yet to translate into cohesion, and a third consecutive defeat at Forest would raise serious questions about their direction. Meanwhile, Hull's 18-signing gamble is either a masterclass in squad rebuilding or a recipe for dressing-room chaos — this weekend will offer the first real evidence.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

When do Liverpool play in the Premier League this weekend?
Liverpool play on Friday, 3 September, away at newly-promoted Ipswich Town. It is the opening fixture of the Premier League's second gameweek.
Who is the new Liverpool coach mentioned in the fixtures preview?
Andoni Iraola is Liverpool's head coach and is yet to win a Premier League match in charge. He faces Ipswich Town on Friday night in what is an important early test.
What is Bradley Barcola's expected role against Ipswich?
Bradley Barcola, who joined Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain during the late transfer window, is expected to start on the bench against Ipswich but is likely to come on during the match.
Why are Tottenham under pressure heading into their Nottingham Forest fixture?
Tottenham suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United last weekend and are at risk of a third consecutive league loss. Their summer transfer spending has so far failed to produce results on the pitch.
What is significant about Hull City's transfer activity this summer?
Hull City completed five deadline-day signings to bring their total summer arrivals to 18 players. They host Aston Villa this weekend, relying on a counter-attacking and set-piece style despite welcoming significant new personnel.
Nation Press
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