EPL Matchweek 2 Preview & Odds
Matchweek 1 threw up more shocks than form guides could have predicted, and Matchweek 2 is shaping up as the round where several clubs try to right the wrongs. Ten fixtures across four days, starting with an early Friday night kickoff — here's the full round.
Table of Contents
- 1. Crystal Palace vs Manchester City
- 2. Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest
- 3. AFC Bournemouth vs Everton
- 4. Coventry City vs Hull City
- 5. Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United
- 6. Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
- 7. Leeds United vs Brentford
- 8. Sunderland vs Fulham
- 9. Manchester United vs Ipswich Town
- 10. Aston Villa vs Arsenal
- 11. The Bigger Picture
- 12. Frequently Asked Questions
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City
Friday 28 August, 20:00 BST, Selhurst Park
City open the round away at a Palace side that opened their own campaign with a comfortable win over Everton. There's an added wrinkle here too — Palace, last season's Conference League winners, face a playoff fixture the Thursday before this match, which could leave legs heavy by kickoff. City, fresh off their bounce-back win over Bournemouth, will look to take advantage of any fatigue in the Palace ranks.
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest
Saturday 29 August, 12:30 BST, Anfield
Liverpool return home looking for their first win of the season after a battling draw at Newcastle. Forest, beaten 1-0 by Leeds in their opener, will arrive as clear underdogs, but Andoni Iraola's side still has plenty to prove defensively after a shaky pre-season — this is a good early opportunity to show it at home.
AFC Bournemouth vs Everton
Saturday 29 August, 15:00 BST, Vitality Stadium
Bournemouth look to bounce back after a narrow opening defeat to Manchester City, hosting an Everton side that impressed in a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace. Everton's away form will be the thing to watch here — David Moyes' side have started with genuine confidence.
Coventry City vs Hull City
Saturday 29 August, 15:00 BST, Coventry Building Society Arena
The pick of the promoted-club fixtures. Coventry were thumped 3-0 by Arsenal on opening day, while Hull produced the shock of the round with a 2-0 win at Manchester United. Momentum clearly favours Hull heading into this one, but a first home game in the top flight in 25 years gives Coventry every reason to respond in front of their own fans.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United
Saturday 29 August, 17:30 BST, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Spurs need a response fast after their chastening 3-0 defeat at Brentford, and there's no easy way back — Newcastle arrive full of confidence after holding Liverpool to a battling draw at St James' Park. A tough early test for a Tottenham side already under pressure just one round into the season.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Sunday 30 August, 14:00 BST, Stamford Bridge
Two of Matchweek 1's standout performers meet at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea's Xabi Alonso era began with a thrilling 3-2 win over Fulham, while Brighton were the story of the weekend elsewhere, thrashing Aston Villa 4-0. Expect goals — neither side looked interested in shutting up shop on opening weekend.
Leeds United vs Brentford
Sunday 30 August, 14:00 BST, Elland Road
Leeds head into this one off the back of a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest, but Brentford arrive as arguably the form side in the league after their emphatic 3-0 win over Tottenham. A genuinely tricky home fixture for Leeds against a side that looked razor-sharp in Matchweek 1.
Sunderland vs Fulham
Sunday 30 August, 14:00 BST, Stadium of Light
Both sides are looking to bounce back from narrow opening defeats — Sunderland went down 2-1 to Ipswich, while Fulham lost a five-goal thriller to Chelsea. A tight, even fixture between two teams still finding their feet.
Manchester United vs Ipswich Town
Sunday 30 August, 16:30 BST, Old Trafford
The pressure is squarely on Manchester United after their shock defeat to Hull, and there's little margin for error against an Ipswich side that beat Sunderland in their own opener. Michael Carrick will want an emphatic response at Old Trafford to settle any early nerves.
Aston Villa vs Arsenal
Monday 31 August, 20:00 BST, Villa Park
The round closes with the toughest assignment on paper for any of Matchweek 1's winners. Arsenal, unbeaten and yet to concede through the Community Shield and their opening league win, travel to a Villa side desperate to respond after being taken apart 4-0 by Brighton. It's the standout fixture of the round, and a genuine early test of Arsenal's title credentials away from home.
The Bigger Picture
Several of Matchweek 1's biggest storylines get an immediate second chapter here — Tottenham and Manchester United both need bounce-back performances, Chelsea and Brighton look to carry their form forward, and Arsenal face their first serious away test of the season at Villa Park. For live, continuously updated odds across every fixture this round, check out JSB Sports, and for the full title race picture, revisit our Premier League Winner Odds hub.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester City travel to Crystal Palace on Friday, 28 August, kicking off at 20:00 BST — the earliest fixture of the round.
Yes — United host Ipswich Town at Old Trafford on Sunday, 30 August, looking to respond after their opening-day defeat to Hull City.
Arsenal travel to Aston Villa on Monday, 31 August, in the final fixture of Matchweek 2.
Coventry City host Hull City on Saturday, 29 August, in the round's only meeting between two of this season's promoted sides.